Brazil prohibits the sale of loot boxes to individuals under the age of 18

In a recent move to bolster online safety, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has enacted restrictions preventing the sale of loot boxes to individuals under 18. This prohibition forms part of a new digital safety legislation.

According to Eurogamer, the ECA Digital law was signed into action earlier this month. This pioneering law aims to secure the digital environments for young Brazilians.

Featured under the "electronic games" section of Chapter 7, Article 20 of this law, the text explicitly prohibits loot boxes targeted at or accessible by children and adolescents, respecting the assigned age rating of the games.

Loot boxes, often termed "reward boxes," are described in the law as features in some electronic games that provide players with consumable items or benefits of random nature, obtainable through payment, without advance knowledge of what they would receive or the value of these items.

The scope of the law includes conditions where the games are appealing or accessible to minors, noting the potential harm to their privacy, safety, and overall development, especially in environments facilitating extensive user interaction.

Set to be implemented from March 2026, this regulation will bar gaming companies from selling loot boxes to underage players in Brazil.

Furthermore, Article 21 mandates that any game offering user interaction features and accessible to minors must adhere to specific security measures. These games must provide avenues for reporting abuse and ensure transparency regarding complaints, echoing the practices mandated by the UK's Online Safety Act.

Similarly, Belgium outlawed loot boxes in 2018, with the Belgium Gaming Commission ruling them illegal under gambling laws, imposing penalties magnified when minors are involved. Violators face financial sanctions and possible imprisonment.