B

Baroness Gerada (CB)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 15 January 2026

Debate

In-game Purchases: Protections for Children

Contribution

My Lords, I refer noble Lords to my declaration of interest: I run a service for those with gambling-related harms on the NHS. I wonder whether the Minister considers that any product where you can exchange money for a random reward could be classified as gambling, which loot boxes are. The Minister mentioned that the reason why loot boxes are not classified as gambling is that there is no exchange in real life of the monetary reward. That is currently very disputed. You can exchange, in the so-called grey market, the money that you gain. Loot boxes have all the features of gambling, and to call them gambling lite does not protect children and young people.

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