Loot boxes and Gaming Industry

Loot boxes and Gaming Industry

Pulling slot machine levers or playing Black Jack can become an addiction and drain bank accounts. These gambling activities are not limited to casinos anymore, it has penetrated well into the gaming industry in the shape of Loot boxes.

Yes, loot boxes can screw your brain and cause gambling addiction. Loot boxes can be found in almost every successful game out there, you name it. From Counter-Strike to Path of Exile, looting and mystery boxes are present in every game to rob you off of your money.

There are thousands of stories where gamers have spent a huge amount of money on these boxes due to poor impulse control. A user on Reddit admitted that he spent over $10,000 on the boxes in various games over the past few years.

But the catch here is that in casinos there are regulatory authorities like casino control boards but in games, the regulatory authorities have yet to interfere to curb horrible business practices.

Lawmakers in the US have proposed bills at the federal level seeking research and promoting regulatory bodies to investigate this practice in video games. Last year September, the Gambling Regulators European Forum released a statement that they are concerned about the loot boxes practice in the gaming industry.

It won’t be easy to regulate a multi-billion dollar gaming industry but to protect young gamers especially children, regulation must be brought in. Federal Trade Commission in the US is to investigate the unfair practice of looting but the challenge here is that if these boxes fall under the current gambling regulations.

Loot boxes have been around for almost 20 years now and its gradually evolving into a system of never-ending in-app purchases.

The backlash against these boxes erupted in 2017 after the release of Star Wars Battlefront II. But there is this debate still going on whether it falls in gambling in the first place or not. Though there are self-regulations at the end of the developers it is not enough. If you have a weak impulse and your brain takes loot boxes as an addiction, it’s a downward spiral that can cause great harm.

About PodcastGameConsultant.com;

Reinout is a games investor and strategic business consultant specializing in the games industry. Reinout established his credentials through his own successful investments, start-ups, consulting and (advisory) board positions that led through time to strong bonds with key stakeholders in this fast paced industry. He is known for his outstanding results in the gaming industry. He has worked with many game studios around the globe and is therefore well known in the international gaming industry.

With over 20+ years of experience, well known publishers, AAA+ game developers, serial gaming entrepreneurs and management teams of gaming corporations consult him on matters that behold financial, technical, operational, strategic and commercial.

I am observing and overseeing several boards of gaming companies. My trademark is to listen, strategize and give feedback to the stakeholders involved. I also represent management/founders towards shareholders and vice versa.

Every Sunday I am hosting a games podcast. New episode are every week with gaming start up’s, investors and game experts. The reason I started this game podast was to share my experience and network.

It is fun, since there are many games podcasts already, but no-one is focusing on the gaming industry. So tune into my video game podcast and do share with others!