Gambling by same token
‘Loot boxes’ could be hitting you in the pocket while your children are gaming, writes
Dragging the kids away from their video games consoles and in the direction of their homework is a parental duty almost universally familiar. Less well-known is what else your children and grandchildren might be getting up to while they are glued to the screen.
The days of simple arcade games in which imaginary flying saucers are shot out of the sky by unseen assassins are long gone; today’s players are expected to compete with unvetted opponents around the world, to whom they talk on headsets. And in the latest development, they are being actively encouraged to indulge in very much non-imaginary gambling.
“Loot boxes” is the child-friendly term given to a feature of online games which use persistent techniques to persuade players to spend money as they go. Many have linked the practice to problem gambling in later life, and last month the House of Lords Gambling Committee said such methods should in future be considered as games of chance and regulated as such.
Loot boxes are a bit like a modern version of Take Your Pick on ITV – virtual treasure chests concealing undisclosed playing tokens that can be used either to enhance status or to get one over on an opponent. Each comes at a price.
The promise of a big reward for little outlay is, of course, tempting, especially to a child. But because the prize is hidden, you don’t know what you’re getting until after you’ve got it. The web is awash with stories of players who have frittered away