Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has called for swift action to address loot box gambling in games for children and young people after an inquiry heard stories of children and young adults who had built up debts of thousands of pounds through spending in games.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee's inquiry into addictive and immersive technologies has resulted in the MPs now calling for in-game spending to be regulated by gambling laws and so-called loot boxes banned entirely for children, something Darren has also been calling for.
Earlier this year he spoke at the 2019 Wales Youth Forum on Gambling, the first youth forum of its kind in the UK, aimed at giving those aged 13 to 15 an insight into the dangers of gambling.
He said:
“As I said at the Youth Forum, it is time for concerted action to address gateway gambling in the form of games, and traditional gambling in the bookmakers amongst young people. This child exploitation must stop.
“It is a real worry that some of the most popular games among children, including Fifa, Star Wars and Fortnite, encourage players to risk real and significant amounts of money in the hope of acquiring a digital item with no real value, often with the odds of getting that item at 0.01 %.
“Gaming companies manipulate those playing these games, encouraging them to throw their money away on what has become a digital roulette wheel sitting in the homes and bedrooms of children and teenagers across the country.
“A survey from the Gambling Commission revealed that one in three 11 to 16-year-olds have gambled in this way at some point.
“With children as young as three years old being able to play these games, it is little wonder that a significant number of young people are growing up with gambling being normalised as a part of everyday life. We can not allow this to continue!”