U.S Senator introduce bill to end microtransaction and lootboxes

I fully support this bill microtransaction and lootboxes are gambling and they target children.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) today announced a bill that would ban loot boxes and pay-to-win microtransactions in “games played by minors,” a broad label that the senator says will include both games designed for kids under 18 and games “whose developers knowingly allow minor players to engage in microtransactions.”

Hawley will introduce the bill, “The Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act,” to the U.S. Senate soon. In press materials announcing the bill, Hawley’s team brought up the Activision game Candy Crush as an egregious example of pay-to-win microtransactions thanks to its $150 “Luscious Bundle” that comes with a whole bunch of goodies. This bill will also likely apply to a host of online games that feature loot boxes and other ways in which players can spend money for real benefits.

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EA will be screwed

About time.

Zero chance it passes. But EA and the industry at large were warned that if they didn’t self regulate re: gambling mechanics, then various Govts will inevitably step in.

Even when it doesn’t pass, perhaps this will prod the corporate execs into realising what will happen if they continue current predatory practices.

Who elected them mommy and daddy? If you don’t want your kids playing candy crush, don’t buy it for them.

Candy crush is free. Otherwise you are right. Lock the ability of the phone to purchase. It’s not tough.

I agree.

We locked our kids’ phones so they couldn’t buy the extras.

Somehow many people in government have gotten the idea that they are in a position to tell American citizens what they can and can’t do. Apparently we need their permission to play candy crush now.

Legalize everything