Ukie's new guidelines, born from a Technical Working Group set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in July 2022, aim to tackle concerns regarding underage gambling through loot boxes in video games. These guidelines follow the government's findings from a September 2020 call to evidence on the topic, which highlighted the issue of young individuals engaging with loot boxes that often involve real-money transactions.
Among the primary recommendations is a complete ban on loot boxes for players under 18, unless explicitly permitted by a parent or guardian. Daniel Wood, co-CEO of Ukie, described the publication of these guidelines as a first for the UK, setting a clear direction toward safer gaming. He expressed anticipation for collaborative efforts within the industry to implement these recommendations.
On July 18, DCMS expressed its support for the guidelines, emphasizing their potential to bolster player protection, particularly for younger audiences. The department remarked on the importance of these developments aligning with the government's goals for enhanced safety measures in gaming.
Ukie's guidelines consist of 11 core recommendations, including technological controls to prohibit under-18s from using paid loot boxes without parental consent. The DCMS specifically lauded this recommendation and urged the wider gaming industry to enhance its parental control measures.
In addition to these recommendations, Ukie emphasizes that the presence of loot boxes should be disclosed prior to a player's purchase or download. Beyond standard recommendations, some of Ukie's proposals are more surprising, advocating for the creation of an expert panel dedicated to age assurance in gaming and a more flexible refund policy for loot box purchases made without parental knowledge. DCMS labeled the lenient refund policy as a critical safeguard against financial harm.
Concerns about loot boxes are not new. In July 2022, Dame Rachel de Souza, the UK Children’s Commissioner, labeled loot boxes as “inappropriate,” urging developers to consider their unregulated access for young people. Similarly, Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs proposed a draft bill in July 2022 to regulate loot boxes, marking it as a pioneering effort within the EU. This initiative originated from a consultation initiated by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) in February 2021 regarding the regulation of loot boxes. Meanwhile, from January 1, 2023, Germany's Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle began considering the inclusion of loot boxes in its age-rating assessments.
