Petition · Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Ban lootboxes in video games to anyone under the age of 18

Closed 50 signatures

What the petition asks

Loot boxes should be banned for under-18s because we think they harm mental health and can cause addiction. There’s little protection for young players, and companies must take responsibility for the risks these present to minors through gambling-like game mechanics.
The government should ban loot boxes for anyone under 18 because we think they negatively affect young people’s mental health and can easily lead to addiction. These gambling-like systems encourage constant spending for random rewards, yet there are no real protections for minors. We believe a government ban would help protect young gamers from addiction, stress, and financial harm.

Timeline

25 Nov 2025 Petition opened for signatures
25 May 2026 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 50
Status Closed
Department Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Opened 25 Nov 2025
Closed 25 May 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 19 Aug 2026.