Loot box

A loot box gives you a random selection of in-game items when opened. It might be presented as a chest, a crate, a pack of player cards or a prize wheel. You know the possible contents and, in many games, the published odds, but not exactly what you will get. Some loot boxes are earned through play; others are bought with real money or with premium currency.

The paid kind is the source of most debate, because paying for a chance at a rare reward has obvious similarities to gambling, even where items cannot be cashed out.

The UK position

In July 2022 the UK government responded to its call for evidence on loot boxes. It decided not to bring them under the Gambling Act 2005 at that time, and instead asked the industry to strengthen protections, including that purchases should be unavailable to children unless enabled by a parent or guardian. In July 2023 the industry body Ukie published principles and guidance in response, which the government welcomed; they include controls to stop under-18s buying loot boxes without parental consent and fair refund policies where children spent without permission.

Age ratings are changing

PEGI, the age rating system used in the UK, uses the term “paid random items” for offers where players do not know exactly what they will get before buying. Under criteria applied to games submitted from June 2026, games with paid random items receive PEGI 16 by default, and in some cases PEGI 18. From October 2026, PEGI began updating digital-only games already rated PEGI 3, 7 or 12 that contain paid random items to PEGI 16.

Loot box controls for families

Check the PEGI rating and descriptors on the game’s store page; they now flag paid random items. Use the parental controls on consoles, phones and PC stores to require approval for purchases or set a monthly limit of zero. Ask About Games, a Ukie-backed site for families, has step-by-step guides for each platform. Talking openly about odds – that a “rare” item may take many attempts – helps children make sense of what they are buying.