Is loot box regulation keeping pace with legal and societal risks?

It’s a question increasingly asked by regulators, researchers, and the guardians of vulnerable players, and one that’s becoming harder for the games industry to ignore.

To understand why loot boxes are testing their legally set limits and, at times, crossing the line to societal harm, we spoke with Leon Xiao, a leading specialist in game monetization and consumer protection.

He is a frequently heard voice in parliamentary inquiries, and his studies have been featured in publications across the UK, the EU, the US, and Asia.

Xiao’s work highlights the growing tension between rapidly evolving mobile and iGaming ecosystems and the outdated legal frameworks intended to protect players.

Whenever challenged in Parliament re how video game companies are NOT disclosing loot box presence and probabilities, the previous Con and current Labour UK governments have always used the same text and maintained that research should and will be done to check compliance.