Belgium says loot boxes are gambling, wants them banned in Europe

[IkePoR]

SvennoJ said:

GribbleGrunger said:

Naa, you're thinking about your own motives for disliking it. I'm talking about their motives for disliking it because they apply to phone games too:

 "The mixing of money and addiction is gambling," the Gaming Commission declared. Belgium's Minister of Justice Koen Geens also weighed in, saying, "Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of the child." 

And there have been numerous stories over the years of children costing parents hundreds of dollars/pounds because of mobile game transactions. So why now? 

Was there chance involved in what they purchased? I've heard of those stories as well but it was always about buying in game currency or skins etc. Plus that has led to better regulation and forced Apple to tighten up their parental controls.

A closer alternative is why are Pokemon blind card packs not gambling? Loot boxes are merely the digital equivalent.

Because despite a particular Pokemon card not having value for you, you're encouraged to trade them to someone who'd want them in return for something you'd want.  A very different beast than gambling and getting useless sprays that you can't use in Overwatch.