In-game Purchases: Protections for Children

Debate between Baroness Gerada and Baroness Twycross

Thursday 15th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

As the noble Earl will be aware, most schools—90% of secondary schools and 99.8% of primary schools—have a mobile phone policy limiting students’ use of mobile phones during school hours. We do not want to exclude children from services which are age appropriate. In relation to screen time, the Government are taking action, but it is important to recognise that screens are part of family life now. The question that parents are asking is not whether they should use them but how to use them well. The Government are going to issue their first guidance on screen use for under-fives in April. This will include tips on how it can be incorporated into activities such as talking, reading and playing safely.

[Baroness Gerada (CB)]

My Lords, I refer noble Lords to my declaration of interest: I run a service for those with gambling-related harms on the NHS. I wonder whether the Minister considers that any product where you can exchange money for a random reward could be classified as gambling, which loot boxes are. The Minister mentioned that the reason why loot boxes are not classified as gambling is that there is no exchange in real life of the monetary reward. That is currently very disputed. You can exchange, in the so-called grey market, the money that you gain. Loot boxes have all the features of gambling, and to call them gambling lite does not protect children and young people.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I have not referred to them as gambling lite. The law is clear that loot boxes are not currently legally considered gambling, for the reasons that the noble Baroness outlined. The grey market is not a legal market, and the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority, where appropriate, take action on illegal gambling in whatever form it takes.