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On 1 July 2022, the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs published a draft Bill to specifically regulate loot boxes, which are randomly-generated in-game rewards. Spain is expected to be the first country in the EU to specifically regulate them.
The Spanish Minister of Consumer Affairs recently announced that Spain would be the first country in the European Union to specifically regulate loot boxes. The draft Bill defines loot boxes as features embedded in video games which offer users the possibility to obtain randomly-generated virtual rewards or prizes that can be purchased in the videogame.
The draft Bill highlights the structural and psychological similarities between loot boxes and gambling. The latter is already regulated under the Spanish Gambling Act 13/2011, but the particularities of loot boxes call for their own regulatory framework.
The aim of the draft Bill is to prevent addictive behaviour, protect the rights of vulnerable groups such as minors, and safeguard users’ rights.
The draft Bill will apply to those loot boxes whose access or activation is offered to the residents in Spain. It will also apply to advertising and promotion of loot boxes.
The draft Bill sets out the following key obligations:
The draft Bill prohibits access to loot boxes by minors (i.e. anyone under the age of 18). In this regard, companies will have to verify the users’ ID before they access the loot boxes. The ID verification mechanism may include biometric identification systems.
Companies will also have to ensure there are parental controls that can be used to block access to loot boxes.
The draft Bill will be open for public consultation until 23 July 2022. Citizens and stakeholders may submit their views to the Spanish General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling via dgoj.sgregulacion@ordenacionjuego.gob.es.
Following the public consultation period, the draft Bill will be discussed in Parliament and thus likely be subject to changes until the law is passed.
12 July 2022
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