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1490884

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether loot boxes are (1) games of chance, and (2) capable of being exchanged for real money.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL1930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2022 answer text <p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/loot-boxes-in-video-games-call-for-evidence/outcome/government-response-to-the-call-for-evidence-on-loot-boxes-in-video-games" target="_blank">Her Majesty’s Government’s response</a> to the call for evidence sets out our findings on loot boxes, and our view on the next steps to address the issues it identified.</p><p>The call for evidence identified an association between the purchase of loot boxes and problem gambling. There are, however, a range of plausible explanations for this association, and research has not established whether a causal relationship exists.</p><p>Loot boxes vary in their design and deployment within games. Loot box rewards are usually confined for use within a given game and cannot be sold for real world currency, so are unlikely to meet the Gambling Act 2005's definition of a prize of ‘money or money’s worth’.</p><p>It is for the Gambling Commission to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to pursue enforcement action against any operations which it believes to be facilitating unlicensed gambling. It has shown that it can and will take action where the trading of items obtained from loot boxes brings loot box mechanics within the statutory definitions of gambling. Its recent uplift in fees has given the regulator new resources to monitor for and tackle unlicensed gambling.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay grouped question UIN HL1928 HL1929 question first answered 27/07/2022 14:38:08 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1587974

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2023
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they will provide an update on the progress of the technical group on loot boxes, which was expected to be published in the first quarter of 2023.
	tabling member printed	Lord Butler of Brockwell
	uin	HL5740
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2023 answer text <p>His Majesty’s Government is committed to ensuring that video games can be enjoyed safely by everyone. The Government Response to the Call for Evidence on Loot Boxes in Video Games set out that the games industry should take the lead in strengthening protections for children and adults. Specifically, the Government’s view is that purchases of loot boxes should be unavailable to children unless and until they are enabled by a parent or guardian, and that all players should have access to, and be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gaming.</p><p>Since then, the Government has convened a technical working group to pursue enhanced industry-led solutions to achieve these objectives. This has brought together representatives from the games industry, and we have engaged with regulators, academics, and consumer groups to ensure that measures are workable for players and parents.</p><p>This work is ongoing, and we will provide an update on the progress of the technical working group process in the coming months.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 06/03/2023 12:00:46 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
	tabling member	3337 label Biography information for Lord Butler of Brockwell

1690186

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor gambling within video games.
	tabling member printed	Lord Foster of Bath
	uin	HL2537
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>His Majesty’s Government and the Gambling Commission continue to pay close attention to novel and emergent forms of gambling and gambling-like products, including within video games, to ensure that appropriate regulation is in place.</p><p>HM Government has welcomed new, industry-led guidance which aims to address concerns about the use of loot boxes in video games.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes is unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and that all players have access to, and are aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gameplay.</p><p>The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period for the new guidance on loot boxes and has asked the industry, co-ordinated by Ukie, to report back to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the extent to which it has been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led measures. We will provide a further update in due course, following the 12-month implementation period.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 01/03/2024 14:22:51 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
	tabling member	214 label Biography information for Lord Foster of Bath

1697655

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the appropriateness of Electronic Arts remaining a member of the Technical Working Group on Loot Boxes, following the ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority that it breached the CAP Code by failing to disclose the presence of in-game purchases in some of its products.
	tabling member printed	Lord Foster of Bath
	uin	HL3447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>His Majesty’s Government is committed to ensuring that video games can be enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone.</p><p>The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that Electronic Arts had breached the Committee of Advertising Practice guidance on two of its adverts by failing to disclose the presence of in-game purchases including random items. We understand that Electronic Arts has responded that the error has been resolved and the adverts removed, which the Advertising Standards Authority has acknowledged.</p><p>In July 2023, video games trade body Ukie published new, industry-led guidance on loot boxes to improve player protections. The guidance was developed by a DCMS-convened Technical Working Group which brought together knowledge and expertise from major games companies and platforms operating in the UK, including Electronic Arts. The group met eight times and engaged with academics, the Games Rating Authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and the Competition and Markets Authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 12/04/2024 10:09:02 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
	tabling member	214 label Biography information for Lord Foster of Bath

1700676

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent breach of the Advertising Standards Authority codes by DCMS Technical Working Group members Electronic Arts, Jagex, and Hutch Games, what steps they are taking to (1) evaluate, and (2) ensure compliance with, industry-led principles and guidance on the use of paid loot boxes in computer games.
	tabling member printed	Lord Foster of Bath
	uin	HL3734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Following our response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, HM Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance to improve protections for all players, including young people.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes is unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and that all players have access to, and can be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible playing of games.</p><p>We are working closely with the industry and academia to support independent scrutiny of these new measures. The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period and has asked the industry, co-ordinated by Ukie, to report back to DCMS on the extent to which the new measures have been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led guidance. We will provide a further update following the 12-month implementation period.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 29/04/2024 10:33:46 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
	tabling member	214 label Biography information for Lord Foster of Bath

1686404

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of the UK Interactive Entertainment principles and guidance on loot boxes; and what steps she plans to take to help ensure compliance with that guidance.
	tabling member constituency	Chingford and Woodford Green
	tabling member printed	Sir Iain Duncan Smith
	uin	12220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2024 answer text <p>Following the Government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, the Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance that aims to address the concerns identified for all players, including young people.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and all players should have access to, and be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gameplay.</p><p>The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period for the new guidance on loot boxes and has asked the industry, coordinated by Ukie, to report back to DCMS on the extent to which it has been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led measures. We will provide a further update in due course, following the 12-month implementation period.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 12221 12222 question first answered 07/02/2024 16:22:28 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	152 label Biography information for Sir Iain Duncan Smith

1686405

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that the gaming industry complies with voluntary or self-regulatory measures to prevent gambling harms.
	tabling member constituency	Chingford and Woodford Green
	tabling member printed	Sir Iain Duncan Smith
	uin	12221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2024 answer text <p>Following the Government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, the Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance that aims to address the concerns identified for all players, including young people.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and all players should have access to, and be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gameplay.</p><p>The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period for the new guidance on loot boxes and has asked the industry, coordinated by Ukie, to report back to DCMS on the extent to which it has been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led measures. We will provide a further update in due course, following the 12-month implementation period.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 12220 12222 question first answered 07/02/2024 16:22:28 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	152 label Biography information for Sir Iain Duncan Smith

1686406

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate loot boxes.
	tabling member constituency	Chingford and Woodford Green
	tabling member printed	Sir Iain Duncan Smith
	uin	12222
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2024 answer text <p>Following the Government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, the Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance that aims to address the concerns identified for all players, including young people.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and all players should have access to, and be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gameplay.</p><p>The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period for the new guidance on loot boxes and has asked the industry, coordinated by Ukie, to report back to DCMS on the extent to which it has been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led measures. We will provide a further update in due course, following the 12-month implementation period.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 12220 12221 question first answered 07/02/2024 16:22:28 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	152 label Biography information for Sir Iain Duncan Smith

1686458

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the relationship between (a) the use of in-game loot boxes and (b) the likelihood of future gambling related harms amongst young people.
	tabling member constituency	Inverclyde
	tabling member printed	Ronnie Cowan
	uin	12453
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2024 answer text <p>Following the Government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, the Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance that aims to address the concerns identified for all players, including young people.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and all players should have access to, and be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gameplay.</p><p>The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period for the new guidance on loot boxes and has asked the industry, coordinated by Ukie, to report back to DCMS on the extent to which it has been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led measures. We will provide a further update in due course, following the 12-month implementation period.</p><p>Under the Gambling Act 2005, gambling is defined as playing a game of chance for a prize of money or money’s worth. The prizes that can be won via most loot boxes do not have a monetary value, cannot be cashed-out, and are of value only within the context of the game. They therefore do not meet that definition. As set out in the Government’s response to the call for evidence, there are also a number of disadvantages to changing the definition of gambling including the likelihood of capturing unintended activities, creating logistical difficulties in increasing the remit of the Gambling Commission, and undermining gambling taxation.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 12454 12455 question first answered 07/02/2024 16:25:17 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4465 label Biography information for Ronnie Cowan

1686459

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Gambling: Video Games
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what evidential basis the decision not to define loot boxes as gambling as part of the Gambling White Paper was made.
	tabling member constituency	Inverclyde
	tabling member printed	Ronnie Cowan
	uin	12454
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2024 answer text <p>Following the Government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, the Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance that aims to address the concerns identified for all players, including young people.</p><p>Measures to protect players should ensure that the purchase of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless enabled by a parent or guardian, and all players should have access to, and be aware of, spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gameplay.</p><p>The Government has agreed a 12-month implementation period for the new guidance on loot boxes and has asked the industry, coordinated by Ukie, to report back to DCMS on the extent to which it has been implemented.</p><p>We will continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review, informed by academic scrutiny of the industry-led measures. We will provide a further update in due course, following the 12-month implementation period.</p><p>Under the Gambling Act 2005, gambling is defined as playing a game of chance for a prize of money or money’s worth. The prizes that can be won via most loot boxes do not have a monetary value, cannot be cashed-out, and are of value only within the context of the game. They therefore do not meet that definition. As set out in the Government’s response to the call for evidence, there are also a number of disadvantages to changing the definition of gambling including the likelihood of capturing unintended activities, creating logistical difficulties in increasing the remit of the Gambling Commission, and undermining gambling taxation.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 12453 12455 question first answered 07/02/2024 16:25:17 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4465 label Biography information for Ronnie Cowan