Around the world, 1.6 billion people gamble and 3.32 billion play video games. Clearly, these two different activities have huge global followings, from the US all the way to Asia. However, one thing that causes some confusion is whether or not gambling is allowed in video games. If you don’t know the answer to this, then you can find it in this jam-packed guide that discusses the relationship between gambling and gaming in 2024.
Is Gambling Allowed in Video Games? The Answer is Yes
✅ Gambling is legal in video games in most countries
✅ Loot boxes are the main gambling tool that people interact with when playing online games in 2024
✅ Belgium, China, Japan, and the Netherlands are the only countries that have banned loot boxes
There is no explicit law in place that bans elements of gambling in video games in the majority of countries. This is why loot boxes and gacha games are allowed on PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, PC, and mobile. The Gambling Act 2005 makes no references to loot boxes or gacha games, which is why (so far) they remain legal. For example, EA FC 24 and Star Wars Battlefront II are some of the most popular console games that feature loot boxes, where players pay money for randomized rewards. When you buy a loot box, you don’t know what’s inside it, much like gambling. However, because loot boxes don’t contain real money rewards, game publishers get to bypass gambling laws. Make sense? Great.
It is important to highlight that console and PC game publishers do not create explicit real-money gambling games due to the age restrictions. For example, there are no real-money casino games that you can download from the PlayStation Store. For now, the main type of gambling you can do through video games is purchase loot boxes. Interestingly, there are no age restrictions on loot boxes, meaning anyone can buy them providing they own the game to begin with.
Where to Play Online Gambling Games
Outside of traditional “video games”, it’s still possible to play online gambling games through the internet. All you have to do is join an online casino or the best canadian sports betting app that offers casino games. You can then deposit your money and start playing — but make sure you gamble responsibly.
Will Loot Boxes Be Banned in the Future?
Today’s gaming industry is largely based around free-to-play games that offer purchasable loot boxes. Not only are the loot boxes a form of gambling, but they’re also one of the biggest driving factors behind player engagement. This has led to major media attention and concern from lots of people, who believe that loot boxes should be banned or (at least) have an age restriction implemented on them. For now, though, this isn’t going to change. In 2022, a UK government consultation found a problem gambling link with loot boxes, but still no ban was placed on them by the government. Clearly, the UK and many other major countries recognize that loot boxes are an issue, but have no plans to explicitly ban them from video games.
