A recent report from the Danish Center for Social Science Research (VIVE) is calling for increased scrutiny of gambling elements present in video games. This report is part of a broader initiative by the Danish government that began in 2018 to combat gambling addiction. While it does not propose specific policy changes, it emphasizes the importance of further investigating gambling-like mechanics and encourages parents to take a more active role in monitoring their children's online behavior.
The report also advocates for better education for children regarding the implications of spending money on video games. One striking observation in the report is that parents often struggle to grasp their children's gaming habits, including the social aspects it encompasses, largely because they did not grow up with these games themselves.
“Parents have difficulty understanding children’s gaming – including the social dimensions of gaming – because the parents did not grow up with it themselves,” the report notes. “But even though it seems understandable that conditions for understanding gaming are different from those of their children, it is problematic when parents’ (and other adults’) lack of understanding and experience with gaming manifests itself as stigmatising gamers and leading to conflicts and punishments.”
Loot-box mechanics and skin betting were specifically identified as elements that resemble online gambling, with the report suggesting that these features can be particularly enticing for younger audiences. Loot boxes, commonly found in titles like FIFA and Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), allow players to spend real money on randomized rewards, while skin betting involves wagering virtual items within games.
The report further underscores the role of influencers in promoting skin betting through streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, raising concerns about the potential impacts on young viewers who witness these gambling-like activities. Although only a small number of young individuals in the study were reported as being affected, the report argues for increased vigilance regarding these gaming practices.
“Even though it can hardly be described as a widespread problem, this form of gambling calls for special attention, as it is clearly reminiscent of definite gambling,” the report stated. “In the long run, it can be expected to accommodate a younger audience – even younger than the 15-to-19-year-olds surveyed, who can’t be expected to be able to control their participation in that kind of gambling.”
Additionally, comparisons made between gambling and online video gaming highlight a significant concern: many online games lack options for players to set spending limits, a feature that is increasingly standard in online gambling environments. “Gambling-related elements of gaming appear more problematic than actual gambling because gaming uses algorithms and does not allow users to set limits on their spending,” the report points out, adding that many gamers are minors who may not fully comprehend the implications of these gambling-like features.
Countries such as Belgium have already taken decisive measures against certain gambling elements in video games, having deemed loot boxes illegal. Spain has also contemplated similar actions by initiating discussions on how to regulate loot boxes effectively.
