Australia intends to prohibit loot boxes for minors and implement a revised age rating system.
Australia Intensifies Youth Protection in Games with Gambling Features
The Australian government is enhancing its safeguards for young people by introducing a new age rating system for selling loot boxes to minors [link].
From September 22, 2024, games displaying gambling-like elements will be available only for adults and will carry an R18 rating. This new law will affect all games incorporating gambling symbols or accessible gambling content.
Games Offering In-Game Purchases and Loot Boxes Receive Age Suggestion
Furthermore, a new rule will apply to games that permit the purchase of loot boxes and other in-game items. These games will receive the M rating from September 22. This label suggests that the games should not be recommended for individuals under 15 years old. However, this is just a suggestion, not a legal requirement.
The sale of R18+ rated games to minors will be illegal in Australia starting September 22. This ban covers all games playable on computers, gaming consoles, smartphones, and tablets.
The new gaming policy regarding age limits for games with gambling features and loot boxes was ratified in Australia last year and will take effect soon.
Loot Boxes are a Controversial Issue in Germany
In Germany, loot boxes are a source of ongoing debate, keeping the video game industry and politics on high alert. Gamers can gain an advantage in a game through loot boxes, unlocking new weapons, tools, and characters. Since loot box contents are uncertain before purchase, many politicians associate this with gambling and critique in-game purchases.
The Senate of the German state of Bremen endorsed a nationwide ban on loot boxes at the beginning of the year and secured a majority of votes in the state parliament. Whether the German Bundesrat will adopt this proposal remains to be seen.
Last year, German lottery company WestLotto advocated for a new provision in the German Youth Protection Act regarding loot box regulation. WestLotto suggested a ban on advertising games with gambling-like content to minors and appropriate age labeling.
However, the German Games Industry Association (GAME) criticized WestLotto's approach, stating that the lottery company is not part of the gaming industry. GAME also pointed out that the gaming industry has already implemented adequate measures for youth protection and loot box control.
In-game purchases have also contributed to the growth of the German gaming industry in recent years. In 2019, the industry earned around €2.2 billion from loot box sales. This figure jumped to €3.2 billion in 2020.
It remains to be seen whether the new age rating in Australia will achieve its intended goals and enhance youth protection.
The Australian government's new age rating system for selling loot boxes will classify games with gambling-like features as R18, making them available only for adults from September 22, 2024. This means that news about the sale of such games to minors will be considered as news relevant to adults in Australia.
In light of the new gaming policy, news outlets in Australia may report on the implementation of the new age rating system, its impact on the gaming industry, and the reactions from various stakeholders, such as gamers, developers, and policymakers.
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