Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch
    Game on Aus
    • News
      PlayStation Plus Deluxe And Extras Drops for March 2023

      PlayStation Plus Deluxe And Extras Drops for March 2023

      March 17, 2023

      PlayStation Australia is happy to reveal the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue additions for March. The Game Catalogue lineup will be…

      The Game Expo 2023 Wrap-Up

      The Game Expo 2023 Wrap-Up

      March 17, 2023

      THE Game Expo (TGX) inaugural event wrapped up in Melbourne last weekend, signalling the addition of a new gaming event…

      Ahoy, Mate! Australian commander and vessel come to World of Warships

      Ahoy, Mate! Australian commander and vessel come to World of Warships

      March 10, 2023

      THE virtual flotilla available in World of Warships has grown larger with the addition of a (fictionalised) Australian cruiser and…

      Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 4 releases today!

      Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 4 releases today!

      March 9, 2023

      [This press release has been provided by Nintendo PR and is presented by the GOA team for your information] 9th…

      New Xbox Game Pass titles announced overnight

      New Xbox Game Pass titles announced overnight

      March 8, 2023

      WITH Xbox Game Pass growing each month it’s still surprising the quality of titles being added each month, with this…

      View All
    • Reviews
      An image of the Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor. The monitor features a large, 34-inch curved screen with ultra-thin bezels. The screen has a glossy finish and displays a vibrant and detailed image. The monitor is supported by a silver-colored stand with a wide base for stability. The stand is adjustable, allowing the screen to be tilted and swiveled to suit the user's preferences. On the back of the monitor, there are various ports for connecting different devices. The Alienware logo is prominently displayed at the center of the bottom bezel

      Next level immersion with Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED Monitor

      March 20, 2023

      THE Alienware 34in AW3423DWF Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor is an impressive addition to any gaming setup. With its impressive 34-inch…

      Resident Evil 4 Remake – Keeping you on the Edge

      Resident Evil 4 Remake – Keeping you on the Edge

      March 15, 2023

      [Note: This article assumes you’re familiar with the main characters in the Resident Evil Franchise] SO in the morning of…

      Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe Review

      Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe Review

      March 14, 2023

      Kirby’s Dream Land is a game that I have such fond memories of experiencing during my early childhood years. I…

      Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse – The Forgotten Horror Franchise

      Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse – The Forgotten Horror Franchise

      March 13, 2023

      I WILL admit that being a horror gaming fan it was great to see a classic horror franchise not released…

      Logitech G915 TKL Wireless Gaming Keyboard Review

      Logitech G915 TKL Wireless Gaming Keyboard Review

      March 8, 2023

      Since I reviewed the Logitech G915 around this time last year, it has been my go to wireless gaming keyboard.…

      View All
    • Podcasts
      Nuts & Bolts Ep 77 Hero Card

      Nuts & Bolts Ep 77: A Wild Mercury Appears!

      March 11, 2023

      Jim is joined by Mercury live in the GOA studio! Jim gets excited over the World Of Tanks ANZPL draft…

      Weekly Show Ep 274 Hero Card

      The Weekly Show Ep 274: Shame Nintendo, Shame!

      March 10, 2023

      Doomcutie joins Stormie and Jim as they talk through mods, leaks and so much more! Plus our Bloody Good Game Of The Week thanks to Aussie Broadband.

      Nuts & Bolts Ep 76 Hero Card

      Nuts & Bolts Ep 76: LCO Drama-Rama

      March 4, 2023

      Peace finally get what’s coming to them as the LCO starts the group stage while a team suffers a tech…

      Weekly Show Ep 273 Hero Card

      The Weekly Show Ep 273: What’s Going On?

      March 3, 2023

      Doomcutie joins Stormie and Jim as they talk through mods, leaks and so much more! Plus our Bloody Good Game Of The Week thanks to Aussie Broadband.

      Nuts & Bolts Ep 75 Hero Card

      Nuts & Bolts Ep 75: How Do You Play With A Broken Wrist?

      February 25, 2023

      Natty & Jim talk about how a Rocket League pro can play with a broken wrist, Capcom Cup announces a…

      View All
    • Categories
      • BY PLATFORM
        • Playstation
        • Xbox
        • Nintendo
        • PC
        • Mobile
        • VR
        • Retro
      • BY GENRE
        • Action
        • Action-Adventure
        • Battle Royale
        • Fighting
        • FPS
        • Horror Games
        • RPG
        • Simulation
        • Sports
        • MMORPG
        • MOBA
        • Platformer
        • Strategy
        • Survival
        • Indie
      • GOA ESSENTIALS
        • Esports
        • Conventions
        • Tabletop
        • Hardware
        • Funny
        • Streaming
        • Win
        • Podcast
        • Video
    • More
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
    Game on Aus
    Home » Australian Agencies Are Starting To Look Closer At Lootboxes..
    Australian Agencies Are Starting To Look Closer At Lootboxes..
    FEATURE

    Australian Agencies Are Starting To Look Closer At Lootboxes..

    Pete CurulliBy Pete CurulliNovember 23, 2017
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    ***Don’t forget to download Ep 58 of the Game On AUS Podcast – “We’re Not Here To F*ck Spiders” to hear Pete and Dan discuss this in full detail, available 12.01am 24/11/2017***

    It’s been rampant in the UK and Hawaii, so it was only a matter of time before it reached our shores and now both Victorian and Queensland Government Agencies have weighed in on whether or not lootboxes constitute gambling and the answers are mixed to say the least.

    Two days ago a representative of the Victorian Commission For Gambling and Liquor Regulation, Jarrod Wolfe, responded to a Reddit user who asked for an opinion on whether or not lootboxes constitute gambling. The answer went as follows:

    “Your research and suppositions on the matter are correct; what occurs with “loot boxes” does constitute gambling by the definition of the Victorian Legislation. Unfortunately where the complexity arises is in jurisdiction and our powers to investigate. Legislation has not moved as quick as the technology; at both State and Federal level we are not necessarily equipped to determine the legality of these practices in lieu of the fact the entities responsible are overseas.”

    What Jarrod is saying is that by the definition of what is gambling in Victoria, lootboxes can be considered gambling, however there isn’t much that can be done about it by their regulatory body because of two reasons:

    1. The law hasn’t caught up with how far technology has come
    2. EA (and the majority of other publishers and developers) are entities outside of Australia and therefore do not fall under the local state and federal jurisdiction – it makes it pretty hard

    Today, a spokesperson from Queensland’s Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation also responded to the same question. Robert Grimmond’s answer drew the same lines but offered a different conclusion:

    “Regrettably, as a regulator of legalised gambling in Queensland, I am not in a position to definitively advise whether ‘loot boxes’ or similar video game features would constitute ‘gambling’, however I can confirm that video gaming which provides for ‘loot boxes’ would not fall within the meaning of a gaming machine as defined under the Gaming Machine Act.”

    The key difference under the Gaming Machine Act – originally passed in 1991 – is whether loot boxes would qualify as a “gaming machine”.

    Reading between the lines I believe Robert is also saying that the law in Queensland hasn’t quite caught up to technology and how rapidly it has changed in recent years.

    So this is where we find ourselves given the latest fallout between EA and the wider gaming community, of which Australia is an active contributor – everyone is yelling that it is wrong, but no one can do anything about it yet.

    One suggestion I’ve heard is for the Australian Classification Board to become involved and lay a blanket rule that all games that include a significant element of gambling receive an automatic ‘R’ rating. This would force publishers and developers to choose between having these systems in their games or leaving them out for the sake of attracting a wider initial audience.

    There is a huge issue with this though, for example games like Grand Theft Auto V portray gambling, but their microtransaction system is actually one of the best built in the gaming industry in that you can see exactly what it is you are buying and you get what you pay for, no money down for the ‘hope’ of getting that shiny new boat. So you penalise the publishers and developers who actually just want to make an adult game with adult themes, for the sake of enforcing a rule on a few.

    *** UPDATE ***

    Since writing this story I had been in touch with the Victorian Commission For Gambling and Liquor Regulation, I wanted to speak with Jarrod but was informed that I would be added to a list of people waiting on an official statement which I just received:

    “The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) is aware of the issue of “loot boxes”. This is a complex issue and the VCGLR is committed to working with other agencies and jurisdictions to address the risks involved.

    The VCGLR has not made a determination that “loot boxes” are an unauthorised form of gambling under Victorian legislation.“

    ***

    This would seem a little at odds with what was initially reported, but it’s not unusual for Government agencies to release a blanket statement that pulls an initial view back into line with the agency and we appreciate the clarification.

    In the meantime we’d love to know what you think the solution to all of this is? This has surely been a huge focal point of discussion across gamers of all walks of life lately – maybe you have thought of something they haven’t?

    #gameonAUS

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleVideo Proof That My XBOX Is Cursed Like A Demon Spawn
    Next Article Indelible Proof That Gaming Is The Best Thing EVER!

    Related Posts

    Resident Evil 4 Remake – Keeping you on the Edge
    ACTION March 15, 2023

    Resident Evil 4 Remake – Keeping you on the Edge

    [Note: This article assumes you’re familiar with the main characters in the Resident Evil Franchise] SO in the morning of…

    Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review – Was the wait worth it?
    ACTION March 5, 2023

    Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review – Was the wait worth it?

    LIKE a Dragon: Ishin! – or Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! as it’s known in Japan, is a spin-off of the…

    Subscribe

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    Ads

    Categories
    • ACTION
    • ACTION-ADVENTURE
    • APPLE
    • BATTLE ROYALE
    • CLOUD GAMING
    • CONVENTIONS
    • DLC
    • ESPORTS
    • Events
    • FEATURE
    • FIGHTING
    • FPS
    • FUNNY
    • GAMING HARDWARE
    • GAMING NEWS
    • GAMING REVIEWS
    • GIFT GUIDE
    • GOA
    • GOA PODCAST
    • HORROR GAMES
    • INDIE GAMING
    • Industry
    • MMORPG
    • MOBA
    • MOBILE
    • NINTENDO
    • Open-World
    • OPINION
    • PC
    • PLATFORMER
    • PLAYSTATION
    • Press Release
    • PREVIEW
    • RACING
    • RETRO
    • RPG
    • SIMULATION
    • SPORTS
    • STRATEGY
    • STREAMING
    • SUBSCRIPTION GAMES SERVICE UPDATES
    • SURVIVAL
    • TABLETOP GAMING
    • TECH
    • VIDEO
    • VR
    • XBOX
    Related Article
    An image of the Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor. The monitor features a large, 34-inch curved screen with ultra-thin bezels. The screen has a glossy finish and displays a vibrant and detailed image. The monitor is supported by a silver-colored stand with a wide base for stability. The stand is adjustable, allowing the screen to be tilted and swiveled to suit the user's preferences. On the back of the monitor, there are various ports for connecting different devices. The Alienware logo is prominently displayed at the center of the bottom bezel
    GAMING HARDWARE

    Next level immersion with Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED Monitor

    March 20, 2023DoomcutieBy Doomcutie

    THE Alienware 34in AW3423DWF Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor is an impressive addition to any gaming setup. With its impressive 34-inch curved display, Quantum Dot…

    PlayStation Plus Deluxe And Extras Drops for March 2023
    GAMING NEWS

    PlayStation Plus Deluxe And Extras Drops for March 2023

    March 17, 2023Gabriel ArmstongBy Gabriel Armstong

    PlayStation Australia is happy to reveal the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue additions for March. The Game Catalogue lineup will be available on Tuesday March…

    The Game Expo 2023 Wrap-Up
    Events

    The Game Expo 2023 Wrap-Up

    March 17, 2023Royce WilsonBy Royce Wilson

    THE Game Expo (TGX) inaugural event wrapped up in Melbourne last weekend, signalling the addition of a new gaming event to the city’s cultural…

    Game on Australia Logo

    Game On Aus is an Australian games publication working across written, video and podcast, and supported by an ever-growing community of content creators and fans!

    Copyright GameOnAus 2023. Privacy Policy. Website by Digital Hitmen

    CONTENT
    • News
    • Gaming Reviews
    • Podcast
    • Tech
    • Indie
    ABOUT GOA
    • About Us
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.