Spain Targets Loot Boxes in New Awareness Campaign

Spain is determined to adopt a firmer stance against video game features that blur the line between entertainment and gambling. 

Fewer Loot Boxes, More Real Gamers

On October 15, the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030 launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of loot boxes, those digital containers that offer random in-game rewards, often for a price.

Loot boxes can contain anything from cosmetic upgrades to new characters or weapons. While players sometimes earn them through gameplay, many choose to buy them directly. 

That mix of chance and real money has made them hugely profitable for game developers, but also controversial, especially because many of the players exposed to them are children or teenagers.

The new campaign, titled “Fewer Loot Boxes, More Real Gamers” (“Menos Loot Boxes, más real gamers”), aims to inform families and young players about the risks behind these mechanics. 

According to the ministry, loot boxes rely on psychological triggers similar to those found in slot machines, encouraging users to keep spending in hopes of winning rare virtual prizes. 

3 in 10 Spaniards Purchase Loot Boxes

Officials warn this creates “a cycle where gamers, who are often minors, are encouraged to keep playing and spending more money until they win the prize they want.”

The campaign comes shortly after Spain unveiled a new plan for safer gambling with a fresh advisory group and began requiring online gambling operators to display clear warnings about addiction risks. 

Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy, who is leading the effort, says the move reflects growing evidence of a link between loot box spending and gambling tendencies.

The government cited research showing that 30% of Spaniards aged 11 to 30 who play video games purchased loot boxes in the past year, with 28.9% of those being minors. 

Even more striking, the study found that players who buy loot boxes are 4.5 times more likely to develop gambling problems compared to those who don’t.

Spain’s concerns mirror those of other countries. In Thailand, for example, a recent survey revealed that 94% of children spend money on claw machines, which are officially classified there as gambling devices.

The Spanish ministry says the campaign is part of a wider effort to “ensure video games can be played in conditions that don’t encourage unhealthy behavior.” It aligns with European consumer authorities’ broader push to regulate loot boxes and protect minors online.