The Municipal Council of Bremen has secured sufficient support in the German Federal Parliament to initiate a countrywide prohibition on loot boxes.
The Issue of Addictive Loot Boxes in Video Games Again Rises
Discussions about the addictive nature of loot boxes in video games have been ongoing for some time. Now, representatives from Bremen have put forward a proposal to instigate a nationwide ban on loot boxes, which has garnered the required support in the state parliament. The Senate now needs to advocate for this ban at the federal level.
Bremen Parliament Takes the Lead
The SPD, Green, and Left factions in the Bremen Parliament have been advocating for a nationwide ban on loot boxes. According to the Bremen online magazine buten un binnen.
Although the opposition (CDU, FDP, and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) were against the proposal, it still garnered the necessary majority. This means that the Bremen Senate should now champion this cause at the federal level.
Controversial Views on Loot Boxes
The Bremen government's stance on loot boxes has gained the support of Tobias Hayer, a gambling researcher who believes that loot boxes can be particularly harmful for young people:
Loot boxes, or loot crates, are gambling-like elements that introduce young people to gambling in a largely unregulated manner. Factor in uncertain win probabilities and vague payout ratios, and you can sometimes end up with high stakes. – Tobias Hayer, psychologist and gambling researcher at the University of Bremen, source: buten un binnen**
However, game, the German games industry association, argues that loot boxes cannot be equated with gambling. If this were the case, they suggested, collectible card games, Panini stickers, or surprise eggs would also need to be banned.
Is there an Alternative Approach to Regulating Loot Boxes?
Most proposals aim to classify loot boxes as gambling and regulate them accordingly. However, in October 2023, WestLotto proposed an alternative solution: to amend the Youth Protection Act to evaluate loot boxes as gambling-like content.
Moreover, the popular video game EA Sports FC 24, known for its loot boxes, was rated as suitable for ages 12 and up by the Entertainment Software Self-Control (USK)*. The in-game purchases were the primary reason for this rating.
This suggests that the regulation of loot boxes may not only be achieved through a fundamental classification as gambling, but also through other means to specifically protect younger players.
The Future of the Bremen Initiative Remains Uncertain
In 2017, an attempt was made to classify loot boxes as gambling in Germany, but it fell through due to the approval of the federal states. Whether this time will be any different is unclear, as the vote in the Bremen Parliament was narrowly decided.
The Bremen Senate now needs to present this proposal to the Bundesrat. However, it is expected that this process could take several months.
Given the support for a nationwide ban on loot boxes in video games from the SPD, Green, and Left factions in Bremen, online casinos in Germany may see an impact if this ban extends to online gambling. Furthermore, if the Senate successfully advocates for this ban at the federal level, German online casinos may need to modify their loot box systems to comply with new regulations.
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