French Regulator Admits Loot Boxes Aren’t Gambling but Remain Cautious

The French gambling regulator Autorité de Regulation des Jeux en Ligne (ARJEL) was the most recent European government to look into the status of loot boxes. The report comes after fellow European nations, Belgium and the Dutch gambling regulators, were very vocal about their stance on loot boxes. France is the latest nation to investigate whether loot boxes constitute gambling practices.

The conversation around the trade of loot boxes in exchange for monetary rewards has lead to some countries banning internet video games that have these boxes. The ARJEL was very critical of loot boxes, pthe view that for loot boxes to constitute a gambling practice, the items contained within them must contain a real-life monetary value.

Other Countries’ Stance on Loot Boxes

Earlier this year, the Netherlands and Belgium governments respectively, took the decision to brand certain types of loot boxes as gambling which ultimately meant that it was illegal under the two countries’ gambling laws. The Dutch regulator went as far as informing top video games developers that they needed to revise their video games by June 2018. Failure to do so would not only result in a ban, but the developers would also face hefty fines and even a jail sentence.

Australia Launch Loot Boxes Investigation

The Australian Senate recently launched an enquiry into the micro-transactions of loot boxes, with the investigation to determine whether they constitute gambling. The matter could not be resolved at the state level as a consensus could not be reached on the status of loot boxes. Therefore, the discussion has reached the level of the federal government, with an inquiry into the way they are used underway. We will keep you informed of the latest findings from this investigation right here on Sunvegascasino.com. For more Australian gambling stories, visit our gambling site.