
Ms Rowland confirmed that games featuring simulated gambling would be subject to a particular rating, as the Government wants to give a clear indication to both the industry and consumers.Ĭurrently, the global “social casino” sector, which is worth billions of dollars, is dominated by some of the largest companies in the gambling industry.

The proposed changes, however, may mean that underage individuals will not be allowed to purchase games that feature simulated gambling in a less prominent way, including as a narrative element of a broader game. She noted that the growing community concern around the scale of simulated gambling harm has been one of the main reasons why the Federal Government has taken action to tackle the practice and protect children from possible risks and harm.


International Gambling Giants Currently Dominate the Global Social Casino IndustryĪs revealed by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, the proposals – that will require the agreement of Australian states and territories to proceed – are specially designed to address some ongoing concerns associated with these games’ potential to encourage players to start gambling. As a result, some game developers have already chosen to eliminate loot boxes from their games, including the manufacturer of Fortnite, one of the iconic releases among gamers from all over the world.Īccording to reports, researchers have found that children who pay and spend real money in simulated gaming games are more susceptible to developing a gambling disorder than children who do not play such games.

The aforementioned move is set to affect some of the most successful games on a global scale, including the popular series of FIFA soccer games.Īs previously reported by Casino Guardian, the last few years have seen an increasing concern over the extremely easy access underage individuals have to games featuring some gambling elements. The Government will also seek to bring some changes to the classification rules to require all games featuring so-called loot boxes that allow players to purchase a package with a random in-game item inside, as it is willing to impose at least a “mature” M-rating on the controversial items. Australia’s Federal Government is set to impose an R18+ rating on all video games that feature simulated gambling, with the move being part of an effort that seeks to restrict children’s access to popular casino-style games.
