Non-Compliance & Lack of Enforcement: New Study
- Self-regulation of loot boxes and gacha—gambling-like mechanisms in video games—is failing in the U.K., according to research published in Royal Society Open Science.
- The research assessed compliance with self-regulation pledges made to the UK government by ukie,a video game industry trade body.
- The study found that none of the top 100 highest-grossing iPhone games sought explicit parental consent before allowing minors to buy loot boxes.
A groundbreaking study reveals that UK loot box self-regulation is failing, primarily as of non-compliance and a lack of enforcement, putting children at risk. Teh research shows that major iPhone games frequently enough neglect to seek parental consent, and they frequently fail to disclose loot box presence or reward probabilities to players. This widespread disregard for existing rules demands immediate action.Regulators are urged to enforce advertising standards and consumer law to protect vulnerable audiences. News Directory 3 is following this story closely, as the study’s authors advocate for stricter regulation of loot boxes. Discover what steps will be taken next.
UK Loot Box Self-Regulation Fails to Protect Children, Study Shows
Updated May 28, 2025
Self-regulation of loot boxes and gacha—gambling-like mechanisms in video games—is failing in the U.K., according to research published in Royal Society Open Science. The study highlights the lack of enforcement and widespread non-compliance, particularly concerning the protection of children from potential financial harm and gambling problems linked to these in-game purchases.
The research assessed compliance with self-regulation pledges made to the UK government by ukie,a video game industry trade body. The findings reveal a concerning lack of adherence to promised safeguards regarding loot box purchasing.
The study found that none of the top 100 highest-grossing iPhone games sought explicit parental consent before allowing minors to buy loot boxes. Furthermore, only a fraction of these games disclosed the presence of loot boxes in their marketing (23.5%) or consistently revealed the odds of obtaining different rewards (8.6%).
Despite these violations being reported to Ukie and the UK government over six months ago, no enforcement actions have been taken. The non-compliant games remain available for download, even though Ukie pledged “severe fines” and app store “delisting” for such violations in July 2023.
The researchers argue that this widespread failure to comply with and enforce self-regulation leaves consumers,especially children,vulnerable. They contend that these companies are violating not only industry self-regulation but also advertising regulations and consumer law.
The study authors urge regulators such as the Advertising Standards Authority, Trading Standards, and the Competition and markets Authority to proactively enforce existing laws. They conclude that stricter regulation of loot boxes is necessary, as the industry’s self-regulation experiment has proven ineffective.
What’s next
The researchers suggest further investigation into the effectiveness of different regulatory approaches for loot boxes and their impact on consumer behavior, particularly among young people. They also emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of industry compliance to ensure adequate consumer protection.