Lootboxes: Valve Disables Trading for CS:GO and Dota 2 in Netherlands

[W1zzard]

Not long ago, the Netherlands ruled that loot boxes in games are gambling, and have been designed to get people addicted, in order to spend more money. Gaming companies had until June 20 (yesterday) to either change their game mechanics accordingly or to apply for a gambling license.

This has now caused Valve to disable trading of items on CS:GO and Dota 2, as the current interpretation of the law has a little loophole that considers loot boxes as gambling only, when the in-game goods are transferable between players.





While other countries sit on their asses and barely debate this topic, the Netherlands seem to be the only country that acts, to stop this madness. Valve of course claims that they are unfairly treated and promise to explain their games' concepts to the Dutch Gambling Authority in hopes to get a more favorable ruling. Also Valve's solution kinda drives people to loot boxes even more, since you can no longer buy the specific item you want from another player; you now have to go through loot boxes, praying that the random number generator will grant you what you're looking for. On the other hand it discourages people from spending excessive money in hopes they can find a high-ticket item that they can sell for a big profit.

The Dutch Gambling Authority has plans to separate regular games and games of chance more strictly, especially to protect younger gamers from the risks of addition. Gambling licenses will only be given to non-EU companies if they have a branch office in the Netherlands and appoint an addiction prevention representative. Also a fund will be established for addiction research, treatment and prevention, into which gaming providers have to pay 0.25% of their gross gaming revenue. Companies not in compliance with the law can be fined up to € 830,000 or 10% of their world-wide revenue.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Good riddance I say. Shame it only applies to the Netherlands.

Valve should really apply for a gambling license and gate lootboxes to adults that opt into them.

 

[bug]

Games have always been based on random events. But when the code is kept on the server and manipulates odds in response to player actions, that crosses a red line.
I also have a problem with pay2win: it should have no place in a game advertised as free.

 

[TheDeeGee]

Nothing has changed, people can still buy Lootboxes.

This was just a failed attempt to ban Lootboxes completely.

 

[GreiverBlade]

well not bad ...

although the first pic is an Overwatch loot crate (so ... no STEAM for them, although they have taken a hit about that too, tho it's a bit idiotic since purely cosmetic and no pay2win issue with them )

 

[Th3pwn3r]

This just screws people over more. Now you have to buy 10 loot boxes to get 10 of the same common item instead of the rare, mythical , legendary or whatever in DotA. They killed the Steam Market, Valve is happy.

 

[bug]

This just screws people over more. Now you have to buy 10 loot boxes to get 10 of the same common item instead of the rare, mythical , legendary or whatever in DotA. They killed the Steam Market, Valve is happy.

Interesting. Whatever they do, your assumption is you _have to buy_ loot boxes.

 

[Fx]

I also have a problem with pay2win: it should have no place in a game advertised as free.

Aye. This is THE reason why I stopped playing Rift. That was the worst case of P2W that I have ever experienced.

 

[Th3pwn3r]

Interesting. Whatever they do, your assumption is you _have to buy_ loot boxes.

That's incorrect, you could also get loot boxes by earning them through play and then trade with other players. Valve is greedy and with Dota it's purely cosmetics, same with CS:GO.

 

[Fx]

That's incorrect, you could also get loot boxes by earning them through play and then trade with other players. Valve is greedy and with Dota it's purely cosmetics, same with CS:GO.

Dota has many items that only exist via purchase. The items are among a group of others in which you have to do multiple purchases to eventually get the item you want. If you are going for the rare/ultra rare, you have to spend an eff-ton. Fortunately, it is entirely cosmetic.

In essence, these are loot boxes since the result is variable.

 

[Final_Fighter]

one problem with loot boxes is many times you spend more and get less. you should always get an item thats equel to the value of the cost of the loot box at minimum.

 

[bug]

Aye. This is THE reason why I stopped playing Rift. That was the worst case of P2W that I have ever experienced.

I'm not completely against p2w, but games that use it should put paying players in a realm of their own. So they won't ruin the experience for everybody else.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Good riddance I say. Shame it only applies to the Netherlands.

Agreed. Would like to see US gambling regulators weigh in and clamp down on these crap.

 

[bug]

Agreed. Would like to see US gambling regulators weigh in and clamp down on these crap.

I don't need the regulators to do anything about it: I simply don't play such titles. I play a game while it's fun. When it turns into mindless grinding, I don't fork up the $$$, I simply move on.
But then again I'm a grown up. The real damage p2w does is to youngsters.

 

[lexluthermiester]

But then again I'm a grown up. The real damage p2w does is to youngsters.

That was my point. Of course I know adults that have little to no self control because it's done incrementally a few dollars here, a few dollars there and then it piles up without them realizing.