GambleAware is looking to spark a nationwide debate about the growing number of underage people engaging in gambling. It launched a new display in London made up of 85,000 poker chips, with each chip representing a kid who suffers from gambling harm.
Many people on social media have been lending their opinions about the subject, with video games like FIFA taking a lot of flak. One commenter on a quote post from Good Morning Britain remarked that it’s nearly impossible for teenagers to use licensed online gambling sites due to extensive verification checks:
Loot boxes are criticized again and again by other posters. One man detailed how he got addicted to FIFA Ultimate Team and the packs that players can buy with real money:
A big point is that these types of games have an age rating of just three years old, so kids have access to loot box elements that mimic slot games. Packs reward users with items of varying rarity levels and the most desirable players only have very small probabilities of appearing upon opening a pack.
the UK government decided against banning loot boxes
Despite commissioning a 22-month consultation into the topic, the UK government decided against banning loot boxes, despite many other countries like the Netherlands and Belgium doing so.
