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Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest

The Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest brings together addiction and mental health service providers, researchers and subject matter experts in the fields of gambling, technology/Internet use and video gaming to collaborate and share knowledge on emerging trends and clinical best practices.

Tagged With "lootboxes"

Discussion Topic

Google’s Play Store starts requiring games with loot boxes to disclose their odds

Registered Member ·
Detailed in an article published last week in The Verge , Google Play Store (Google's app store) will require app developers to disclose the odds of winning a prize through loot boxes in their games by September 1. Loot boxes are virtual items that players can purchase for a chance to win a prize, such as a "skin" (a cosmetic element that doesn't affect the outcome of a game, like a new outfit for your character). This new policy would also include free-to-play games that offer loot boxes,...
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Re: Google’s Play Store starts requiring games with loot boxes to disclose their odds

Registered Member ·
As a mother whose 12-year-old just spent $50 of his birthday money on loot boxes in Overwatch, having some idea of the odds of his getting the skin of his dreams would definitely have given me a better argument to dissuade him from doing this. Letting people - usually kids - know the odds would bring into focus the idea that this is gambling, and spark conversations in families that may be less aware. I do think that this kind of gambling is insidious for youth. For this reason, regulation...
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Re: Google’s Play Store starts requiring games with loot boxes to disclose their odds

Registered Member ·
Publishing the odds is very important, however I hope that these odds would be presented in easy to understand terms, instead of just numerically. We have found that just indicating the odds numerically makes it difficult to have a real understanding of what this means (for adults as well as youth). Using descriptors in easy to understand terms that are accessible and not in small print and difficult to locate would be required.
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