The European Union may seriously move toward regulating loot boxes in video games. Danish Member of the European Parliament Kristel Schaldemose has called for a complete ban on the mechanic following a new study involving children in Denmark.
The survey showed that more than half of children aged 11 to 16 had purchased loot boxes at least once, while one-third said they immediately felt the urge to buy another after opening one. The politician believes the system resembles a “digital casino” and pushes children to spend more money through psychological pressure and gambling-like behavior.
Loot boxes are widely used in popular games such as EA Sports FC, Roblox, and Counter-Strike 2. They provide random rewards — skins, weapons, or other cosmetic items, sometimes extremely rare and expensive. The EU has been discussing possible restrictions on this system for several years, and the European Commission could present concrete measures by the end of 2026. The options range from a full ban to introducing special access restrictions for minors.
As a reminder, Opening cases in CS2 will be banned in Germany, only X-ray scanners will be available.
