Valve has suspended the sale of game items for CS:GO and Dota 2 in the Netherlands due to the law on loot boxes
Valve has disabled the ability to sell and exchange game items in online games Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 in the Netherlands. The reason was the country’s law prohibiting the circulation of virtual items that can be sold for real money or played as a prize in a gambling game with money bets.
Valve insists that it does not agree with the position of the Dutch authorities regarding the titles published by it. The company said it would negotiate with the Dutch administration to find a compromise. Until this happens, Valve is forced to suspend the sale of game items and the ability to transfer them through the Steam Workshop on the territory of a European country.
Recall that in April of this year, the Dutch State Gambling Commission checked 10 titles for compliance with local gambling legislation. The regulator concluded that a number of games from this list violate the laws of the country, as a result of which their publishers may be liable if they do not comply with the requirements of the commission within 2 months. Dota 2, FIFA 18 and other titles were among the violators.
According to Dutch law, the mechanics of loot boxes are equated to gambling if game items from them can be exchanged for real money.
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