In-game Purchases: Protections for Children Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Lord Butler of Brockwell
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In-game Purchases: Protections for Children
Lord Butler of Brockwell Excerpts(1 day, 9 hours ago)
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Lord Butler of Brockwell
To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards implementing protections for children from harmful in-game purchases, including loot boxes.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)
The Government are committed to ensuring games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone, including children. Industry-led guidance to improve protections to players in relation to loot boxes was published in 2023. A 12-month implementation period ended in July 2024, and we commissioned independent research to assess its effectiveness. We have engaged relevant government departments and regulators to consider the research. We will publish the report and set out our next steps in the coming months.
Lord Butler of Brockwell (CB)
My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. Is it not time that loot boxes were recognised for what they are—a form of gambling highly addictive to children? The last Government opted for industry-led regulation, but independent research shows that it is not being effectively applied. Will the Government act to ensure safe regulation, particularly for children?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Clearly, protection for children is key. But as the noble Lord rightly states, loot boxes are not currently legally considered gambling, as individuals are not able to cash out their purchases as currency. Where unlicensed gambling is identified, the Gambling Commission has shown that it will take swift enforcement action. I mentioned the report that was finalised and received in December; the Government are considering the implications of these findings along with other government departments and relevant regulators. We have committed to publishing its findings and we will do so shortly alongside our next steps, including keeping our position on possible future legislative options under review.