Belgium Declares Loot Boxes Equal to Gambling, Vows to Ban Them

Following all the loot box shenanigans at various publishers like Electronic Arts or Blizzard, we’ve learned the Belgium Gaming Commission has declared loot boxes are the same as gambling.

The news comes from VTM News (via PC Gamer), who translated the statement from the government body.


“The mixing of money and addiction is gambling,” the translated (VTM News via PC Gamer) statement from Belgium’s Minister of Justice Koen Geens reads. He continued:

“Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of the child. We will certainly try to ban it.”

Judging by the seriousness of the response, it even sounds like Belgium wants to spearhead banning the practice worldwide, and not just in Belgium.

How do you feel about loot crates in games? Should they be allowed or banned entirely? What if we just make them illegal to play for people under the legal age of an adult? Sound off in the comments below!


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