How regulators treat paid loot boxes and chance-based game purchases, with dates and sources for each country. Updated as rules change.
| Country | Date | What the rule or ruling says |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2018 | Belgium | The Gaming Commission found that paid loot boxes in the games it reviewed (including Overwatch, FIFA 18 and Counter-Strike: GO) broke gambling law. Some publishers then removed paid loot boxes in Belgium.Players: a decision on specific games from 2018; we have not re-checked later enforcement.[Game Informer] [Gambling Insider] |
| Mar 2022 | Netherlands | The Council of State ruled that FIFA Ultimate Team packs were not a stand-alone game of chance, quashing the KSA’s €250,000 weekly penalty against EA.Players: the court looked at that product’s design; it is not a general rule for every game.[AKD] [SBC News] [CMS] |
| Jul 2022 / Jul 2023 | United Kingdom | The government chose not to regulate loot boxes as gambling and backed industry-led protections. In July 2023 it said no legislation was being taken forward at that time and that options remain under review.Players: protections rely on voluntary industry guidance such as parental controls.[GOV.UK response] [GOV.UK 2023 update] [Bird & Bird] |
| Sep 2024 | Australia | Games with in-game purchases linked to chance, such as paid loot boxes, must be rated at least M. Games with simulated gambling, such as social casino games, must be rated R18+.Players: a rating system, not a ban on loot boxes.[Australian Classification] [AGBrief] |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Brazil | The ECA Digital (Law 15.211/2025) took effect and bans loot boxes in electronic games aimed at children and adolescents. Sanctions include warnings and fines.Players: separate from Brazil’s 2026 betting ban; see our betting-ban story.[Demarest] [PocketGamer.biz] [Poder360] |
| 30 Sep 2026 | European Union | The CPC Network, made up of national consumer authorities, launched coordinated action against nine game companies over in-game virtual currencies: hidden real prices, pressure to overspend and protections for children. A Digital Fairness Act proposal is expected in 2026 and will look at gambling-like game features; we will add the date once confirmed.Players: the October action covers virtual currencies; the reports we found do not name loot boxes.[Brussels Times] [Gaming.net] [CADE Project] |
📌 Why a gambling site covers this: loot boxes are a chance-based purchase inside a game, and regulators often ask the same question as in gambling: is there a stake, a chance outcome and a prize with value? Our view is that the age and disclosure rules matter most for parents and young players. This page is information only.
Each row needs at least two independent sources, or the official source plus one more. Where we found conflicting summaries we followed the primary source and left the detail out. Loot box law changes slowly but unevenly, so rows show the date of the decision, not a guarantee that nothing has changed since. Countries not listed are either unregulated or not yet verified by us. This is not legal advice. Related: glossary, Regulation Tracker.
One email a week: the regulation changes, market news and events that matter for crypto gambling. Verified, no spam.
18+ only. Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.It depends on the country and on how a particular game works. Belgium said yes for the games it reviewed in 2018, the Dutch Council of State said no for FIFA packs in 2022, and the UK does not treat them as gambling.
Not as far as we have found. The Commission is expected to propose a Digital Fairness Act that will look at gambling-like game features, and consumer authorities have started action on in-game currencies.
When a new ruling or law is confirmed by two sources, and we review it at least monthly.
18+ only. Gambling laws differ by country and change quickly — check the rules where you live. If gambling stops being fun, BeGambleAware and GamCare offer free support.