Parents warned to ‘save children from loot box gambling’
YOUNGSTERS CAN EASILY SPEND A LOT ON IN-GAME MICROTRANSACTIONS
PARENTS have been warned about children gambling using loot boxes in video games.
With the release of the Play Station 5 and Xbox Series X consoles this year, many children will be receiving new video games to play on Christmas Day. But this has raised concerns with councillors in North East Lincolnshire, who are worried some children might be exposed to gambling using loot boxes and microtransactions in their new games.
Loot boxes are a feature in many video games which offer the player a random chance at unlocking new items for their character, whether it is new weapons, new skins (which change a character’s appearances), or new vehicles for them to use.
They can often be provided for free in games when you reach certain levels, but usually there is an option for people to buy loot boxes with either ingame currency or real money to unlock rare items and give them an advantage while playing.
There are also microtransactions which can offer specific weapons and skins for their players without having to risk it with loot boxes.
Some main games that offer loot boxes include Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Overwatch, as well as being found in sports games such as FIFA. Video games can also offer DLC, or Downloadable Content, which unlock new maps, missions, and characters, which come at an additional cost to the game’s basic price.
In 2019, young people spent approximately £270 million on microtransactions in video games.
In a joint statement, Councillor Ian Lindley and Councillor Ron Shepherd, from North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Many youngsters in our area will likely be unwrapping new games consoles and video games this Christmas, and lots of parents will be unaware of these in-game purchases and the fact that by Boxing Day, their child could be gambling away their money whilst playing their new games.
“These purchases can amount to huge sums when you factor in the original costs of the games themselves, along with the amount that you would probably have to spend on these loot boxes to get some of the more sought-after prizes. “Parents need to be aware of these microtransactions so they can monitor what their children are doing. You can set spending limits on games consoles so you don’t wake up to a hefty bill, and talk to your children to explain the dangers and risks of gambling.”