The mechanics of loot boxes cannot be recognized as a form of gambling, and their legal prohibitions limit the possibilities of the game industry to test new business models, said Mike Gallagher, president of the American Association of Software and Games Manufacturers.
The head of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), in particular, mentioned the initiatives of the Dutch and Belgian authorities demanding to remove loot boxes from games. According to Gallagher, it is a mistake to associate loot boxes with gambling, if only because their contents are not converted into real money, at least gaming clients themselves do not give such an opportunity.
Gallagher also supported the decision of the New Zealand government, which did not recognize the legal similarity of the loot box system with gambling. In his opinion, there are enough opportunities to protect players from the predatory practices of companies using monetization in bad faith. The market will sort everything out by itself, the ESA president is sure: companies acting in the interests of the players will be rewarded with a loyal fan base, and users will turn away from market participants with a dubious reputation.
Recall that legislative initiatives against loot boxes have already appeared in a number of European countries, as well as in some US states.
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