Belgium: FIFA 18, CSGO and Overwatch loot boxes violate gambling laws, have to be removed or risk up to €1.6mil fines or 10 year jail sentence

[poklane]

Via the website of the Belgian Minister of Justice, Koen Geens (in Dutch): https://www.koengeens.be/news/2018/04/25/loot-boxen-in-drie-videogames-in-strijd-met-kansspelwetgeving

TL;DR translation:

1. In order for something to be a game of chance, the gambling committee uses four parameters: is there a game element, can a bet lead to profit or loss and is luck a factor in the game.
   
2. Only Star Wars Battlefront II, FIFA 18, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch were investigated. BF2 was cleared due to changes made at launch, the other 3 games are subject to gambling laws.
3. Because said 3 games violate gambling laws they have to be removed. If they aren't the operators risk a jail sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of €800.000. When minors are involved, those penalties can be doubled.