Danish MEP calls for EU-wide ban on loot boxes in games

A Danish member of the European Parliament has demanded an EU ban on loot boxes in video games, comparing them to “a digital casino” after a new study found over half of Danish children aged 11–16 have purchased them.

Social Democrat Christel Schaldemose told Danish broadcaster DR that parents cannot be left to face tech giants alone, as companies have built business models around encouraging children to spend repeatedly. She will raise the issue directly with EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, who oversees consumer protection.

“We cannot keep placing the burden on parents alone,” Schaldemose wrote in a statement. “They are up against some of the world’s largest tech and gaming companies, which have designed systems to keep children playing longer, clicking more, and paying again and again.”

The study, conducted by the Centre for Digital Pedagogy and UNICEF Denmark, surveyed 1,785 children. It found that 52% had bought loot boxes—virtual containers with random in-game items—with 65% of boys and 38% of girls doing so. One-third reported feeling an urge to buy another immediately after opening one.

Schaldemose argued that children should be able to play and socialise online “without being pressured to spend more money through designs that resemble a digital casino.” She confirmed her preference for an outright ban, though other options—such as requiring players to actively opt in—are also under discussion.

The European Commission is expected to address loot boxes in late 2024, though the exact approach remains unclear. The most common reasons children cited for buying loot boxes were obtaining rare “skins” (46%), enjoyment (40%), and chasing high-value prizes (33%).