The Belgian Gaming Commission recommends criminal prosecution over lootboxes

[Miya]

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-05-10-belgian-gambling-commission-lays-out-recommendations-over-illegal-loot-boxes

The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) has suggested that criminal prosecution should be undertaken against Electronic Arts, Valve, and Activision Blizzard over loot boxes in their respective games.

With the release of its research report on loot boxes,the BGC has clearly defined the parameters of what does and does not constitute gambling, and the ways in which FIFA 18, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Overwatch each contravene the legislation.

Although the BGC has suggested criminal prosecution first and foremost, it will not proceed until Belgian minister of justice Koen Geens has met with industry stakeholders to begin a dialogue on the issue.

Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, BGC director Peter Naessens said: "We are going to take all preparatory measures for the drafting of police reports, but it's not going to be tomorrow. There is a certain amount of time for the minister of justice, but it's not unlimited."

[Mattk50]

Not really a fan of ex-post-facto legal shit where they get slapped for something before the interpretation of the legislation changed, but they should criminalize it going forward.

[G-Man]

Hopefully something'll come of this, but really, the EU should stand together on this. Right now quite a few countries, like Denmark, do not consider lootboxes gambling.

[Tamschi]

It depends on how that came about.
If it's just the courts deciding it now, or a commission only examining the existing law in relation to this topic, then that means that law probably has been on the books all the time they had these systems active.