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U.S. Senator reveals bill to ban loot boxes and pay-to-win

Republican Senator Josh Hawley has announced a bill intended to ban loot boxes and microtransactions in "games played by minors."

Kevin Tucker

May 8, 2019 11:00 AM

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Another U.S. politician has video games in his sights, though perhaps not for the reasons players are used to. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has recently unveiled a bill that looks to ban microtransactions and loot boxes in "games played by minors," specifically going after titles that are "designed for kids" which "monetize addiction."

Known as "The Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act," the latest bill will soon be introduced to the U.S. Senate. It aims to cut down on the prevalence of microtransactions in games often played by children, and takes into account the controversy surrounding loot boxes, specifically toward the notion of them essentially being legitimized forms of gambling.

“When a game is designed for kids, game developers shouldn’t be allowed to monetize addiction,” the press release from Hawley's team reads. “And when kids play games designed for adults, they should be walled off from compulsive microtransactions. Game developers who knowingly exploit children should face legal consequences.”

One specific game that Hawley's team mentioned is Candy Crush, which includes such "microtransactions" as a $150 dollar "Luscious Bundle." Though the micro- part of the term doesn't exactly apply in this case, such a bundle is simply proof of how easy it could be for children to spend money on a game expressly designed to be addictive. Of course, the fight against microtransactions will inevitably involve games such as Overwatch, FIFA, or even Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The bill hasn't yet been introduced to the Senate, but not everyone believes it has the power to bring about change. The Entertainment Software Association in particular isn't holding its breath: Speaking in a statement offered to Kotaku, the ESA reiterates that the video game industry is perfectly capable of self-regulation:

“Numerous countries, including Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, determined that loot boxes do not constitute gambling. We look forward to sharing with the senator the tools and information the industry already provides that keeps the control of in-game spending in parents’ hands. Parents already have the ability to limit or prohibit in-game purchases with easy to use parental controls.”

Be sure to keep it tuned right here to Shacknews for further updates.

Kevin Tucker

Guides Editor

Kevin Tucker is a core component of Shacknews' powerful guide development team. For questions, concerns, tips, or to share constructive criticism, he can be reached on Twitter @dukeofgnar or through e-mail at kevin.tucker@shacknews.com.