# Lootboxes, pay-to-win, virtual currencies and other blights unto gaming face heavy regulation as the EU tables new Digital Fairness Act

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/lootboxes-pay-to-win-virtual-currencies-and-other-blights-unto-gaming-face-heavy-regulation-as-the-eu-tables-new-digital-fairness-act/
- Published: 2026-11-11T13:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T14:38:55+00:00
- Original publisher: Rock Paper Shotgun
- Original article: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/lootboxes-pay-to-win-virtual-currencies-and-other-blights-unto-gaming-face-heavy-regulation-as-the-eu-tables-new-digital-fairness-act
- Topics: Entertainment, Europe, Gaming

## Key points

- The EU has presented a draft Digital Fairness Act.
- It targets loot boxes, virtual currencies and pay-to-win systems.
- The proposal would add protections for children and consumers.

## Summary

The European Commission has formally presented a draft Digital Fairness Act to EU member states, proposing rules for online practices including loot boxes, virtual currencies, pay-to-win systems and design features that encourage excessive use. If adopted, the law could significantly affect game publishers and developers, as well as other companies selling to EU consumers.

The draft would require publishers to show the real-world prices of virtual currencies and the odds of items in paid random-reward systems, and offer accessible ways to disable those systems. Paid currencies and random rewards would be off by default for children unless a parent or guardian approves, while pay-to-win and pay-to-progress mechanisms for children would be prohibited. The proposal also covers manipulative interface design, advertising aimed at children and engagement features; it remains subject to debate and revision.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.