Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania calls for stricter protection of minors for gaming!

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania calls for stricter protection of minors for gaming!

In the vibrant atmosphere of Gamescom in Cologne, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Social Minister Stefanie Drese spoke up and made an urgent demand to politicians: There must be more protection of minors in the gaming sector. The trigger for this statement is the increasing concern about loot boxes - virtual treasure chests that players can buy in computers and video games and which often offer decisive advantages in the game. As reported by n-tv.de, Drese warned urgently that young people in particular could become over-indebted by purchasing these loot boxes. Over 40 percent of 10 to 19 year olds make purchases in video games, as a study by the University of Graz has shown.

A big problem: When purchasing, players don't know what content they are actually getting. This uncertain element is similar to gambling, which is a major concern for Drese and other experts. “It is time for us to create clear regulations here,” said Drese. Loot boxes are already banned in Belgium, and stricter regulations are also being discussed in the Netherlands and Spain. We can only hope that Germany will also take up this development.

Federal Council initiative on the way

Drese announced a Federal Council initiative for the end of September that will specifically address this issue. The aim is, among other things, to legally regulate the disclosure of the contents and probability of winning loot boxes. In addition, warnings about the dangers of gambling should be introduced and the topics integrated into school curricula. An important step in the right direction, as Glueckswirtschaft.de adds.

The application was launched together with the left-wing faction and aims to adapt central regulations such as the State Treaty on Gambling, the Youth Protection Act and the State Treaty on Youth Media Protection. Loot boxes are currently not explicitly defined as gambling in these regulations, which represents a regulatory gap. “We need clear age limits and more transparency,” demands Julian Barlen, the SPD parliamentary group leader. In addition, he would like to improve parental controls and tighten advertising restrictions.

Market development and international trends

The discussion about loot boxes takes place against the backdrop of a booming video game market. Global sales are estimated at 356.75 billion euros in 2023 and the market is growing rapidly. In Europe, the sector is one of the fastest growing entertainment areas. As Glueg.org notes, there is still no adequate regulation in many areas of the video game market. An own-initiative report adopted by the European Parliament therefore calls for stricter regulation, particularly with regard to loot boxes.

The politically sensitive measures, fueled by public discussions, are showing initial success: In Belgium, loot boxes in many games were classified as gambling and were therefore banned. This could be a model for other countries, although the exact legal environment varies from country to country. In Austria, a court even ruled that loot boxes are gambling, which forced Sony to pay back.

Politicians are asked to create clear framework conditions that ensure gaming protection for children and young people. The legal hurdles for providers could also be minimized through uniform EU regulation. A bold step in the right direction – for safe and responsible gaming.