Phoenix RISING
Banned
Back in April, the Dutch gaming authority said it had looked into loot boxes in 10 games and found four contravened its Betting and Gaming Act. It said the content of these loot boxes was determined by chance and, crucially, the prizes could be traded outside of the game. Therefore, the prizes had a market value.
Valve's note to Dutch Steam users reveals the company received two letters from the Dutch Gaming Authority, stating both CS:GO and Dota 2 contain loot boxes that violate the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act.
Valve, which insists it does not agree with the Gaming Authority's view of loot boxes, said it had no choice but to pull item trading and transfers as it continues to argue its case.
Yesterday, the Gaming Authority issued a press release saying it was going to check up on video games from today, 20th June, to see if their loot boxes were compliant with Dutch law.
"Concerns at the Gaming Authority are mainly about the fact that there are indications that loot boxes encourage gambling addiction," the note to press reads.
"There is consensus worldwide that gambling can not be played by minors. An adjustment that providers could make is replacing the loot boxes in their game with 'direct buy': virtual items that are known in advance can then be purchased."
The Dutch Gaming Authority said it can impose administrative fines of up to 830,000 euros (or, if that is more, 10 per cent of the company's worldwide turnover that violates the law) if it turns out game companies have not made sufficient adjustments.
"There is consensus worldwide that gambling can not be played by minors. An adjustment that providers could make is replacing the loot boxes in their game with 'direct buy': virtual items that are known in advance can then be purchased."
Source
I 100% approve of the item/market system that Valve had with DotA 2. I own more than one Arcana item, which are $30 each.
However, I 100% do not approve of the loot boxes they use, where the item you get is random, where, if you want a gun for Sniper, and the set is for five different heroes, you might have to buy all five before you roll the Sniper gun.
Just let me buy what I want, thanks.
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