According to some UK lawmakers and gaming regulators, as well as those in certain other countries, loot boxes found in video games are a form of gambling. It is a topic that has been hotly debated the past couple of years, and there is still no global consensus on how they should be classified. However, a report just released by a research agency for the European Union (EU) could clarify the situation and potentially lead to video game developers scrapping loot boxes completely.

The EU committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) took a look at loot boxes found in certain online video games and how they impact younger consumers. The report (in pdf), which was sanctioned by the EU, is said to be the most comprehensive investigation into loot boxes by any research agency in the union, and explored things like the design of the offerings, how they attract gamers and how they’re monetized. It was prepared as a result of the ongoing dispute over whether or not the loot boxes are a type of gambling and if they were turning video gamers into gambling addicts.

To provide its results, the IMCO looked specifically at things like how the loot boxes are accessed, how much they cost, transparency in the odds of securing certain video game items and the type and value of content offered. The committee emphasized that the offerings have their own category, and do not share the same characteristics as other rewards that can be achieved through actions such as watching in-game ads or exchanging data. 

The IMCO reached a conclusion that will be bittersweet for gamers and video game developers. It explains, “Research on the behavioural effects of loot boxes exists but more is needed to provide robust and conclusive findings. Some research has found that problem gambling and paying for loot boxes are related. However, there is no consensus on a causal link between loot boxes and harmful behaviour.”