Government outlines policy protecting children from in-game purchases and gambling

By March 20, 2018 Press Releases

Today the Government outlined how it is trying to protect children from being exposed to protect children from in-game purchases and situations that may expose them to gambling within video games.

Following a Written Question from Anna Turley, the Labour/Co-operative MP for Redcar, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport outlined the current regulations that govern in-game purchases, PEGI age ratings and parental guidance.

The Government stated that protecting children and the vulnerable from being harmed or exploited by gambling is a core objective of the regulation of gambling in Great Britain. Under the Gambling Act 2005 it is an offence to invite a child or young person to gamble. This includes, in particular, intentionally bringing to the attention of a child or young person information about gambling with a view to encouraging them to gamble.

Where gambling facilities are offered to British consumers using in-game items which can be converted into cash or traded for items of real-world value, then such activities must be licensed by the Gambling Commission. The Gambling Commission has a range of powers to enforce compliance, including bringing criminal action against unlicensed operators that offer gambling to children.

The Video Standards Council (VSC) Rating Board is the statutory body responsible for the age rating of video games in the UK using the Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) system. Pictographic content descriptors supplement the PEGI age ratings, and there is a descriptor for games that contain elements that may encourage gambling. Games with this type of content carry a PEGI 12, 16 or 18 age ratings. The VSC Rating Board is working with PEGI to assess further steps to inform consumers about purchases in games.

The Competition and Markets Authority provides guidance and advice for parents and carers, in respect of children’s use of online games. The advice includes information on checking device settings to prevent children from making in-play purchases, as well as guidance on game descriptors.

This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/buying-featuresin-online-games-advice-for-parents-and-carers/childrens-app-and-online-gamesadvice-for-parents-and-care

 

About TIGA

TIGA is the network for games developers and digital publishers and the trade association representing the video games industry. Our core purpose is to strengthen the games development and digital publishing sector. We achieve this by campaigning for the industry in the corridors of power, championing the industry in the media and helping our members commercially.

TIGA is intent on building an enduring organisation which continually improves; a business that will make a significant impact on the games industry and so benefit our membership and the wider economy. Since 2010, TIGA has won 24 business awards, an achievement which reflects TIGA’s drive for improvement and to meet best practice.

For more information visit: www.tiga.org

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For further information, you can also contact:

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