Loot boxes: Netherlands support new ban

Several Dutch political parties are backing a new attempt to ban loot boxes in video games in their country.

Six parties in the Netherlands support one movement, which would align the legislation regarding loot boxes in video games with that of Belgium. The random packages, which are often associated with gambling, have been banned there since 2018. Even then, the Netherlands classified some models as a gamble. However, attempts to regulate loot boxes like the FIFA Ultimate Team Packs have failed.

The new push will describe loot boxes as a “form of gambling” that “tricks children in video games into ‘buying’ items via in-game microtransactions.” With the six parties in question making up more than half of the Senate and House of Representatives, it is not unlikely that legislation will be paved the way.

>> Games with loot boxes soon from 18?: Federal government wants to protect children better <<

In October 2020, The Hague Court ruled that the FUT packs violated Dutch gambling law and fined EA €500,000 for each week the developer failed to release the packs from the then FIFA offshoot remove. EA appealed and allowed the maximum fine of 10 million euros. Two years later, the fine was overturned by the Dutch Supreme Court. The new advance is now intended to plug the loophole that has been exploited.

In Spain, too, the pressure on suppliers of loot boxes is growing. The country plans to take action against “thoughtless, compulsive or even pathological” consumer behavior, but does not want to take away the fun of games from gamers.