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

In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has enacted a new regulation prohibiting the sale of loot boxes to minors, under the framework of a broader online safety legislation.

As detailed by Eurogamer, this legislation, known as the ECA Digital law, was signed earlier in October. It marks Brazil's first effort to safeguard minors in digital environments.

Article 20 of this new law, found under its electronic games section, dictates that:

"Loot boxes offered in electronic games aimed at children and adolescents or likely to be accessible by them are prohibited, in accordance with the respective age rating."

The regulation describes loot boxes, or "reward boxes," as features in video games where players can purchase virtual items or benefits without knowing the exact content or its usefulness in advance.

This legislation assesses the likelihood of children accessing a product based on its attractiveness, ease of use, and the potential risks to minors' privacy and development. Particular attention is given to products that enable broad-scale social interaction and information sharing.

The law is set to take effect in March 2026, making it illegal for game developers to sell loot boxes to individuals under 18 from that time onwards.

Furthermore, Article 21 requires games featuring user interactions, such as voice chats or content-sharing capabilities, to adhere to certain regulations when they are marketed towards or accessible by minors.

These regulations mandate a system for handling complaints and abuse reports and require transparency about the number of issues reported, reflecting aspects of the UK's Online Safety Act.

In a similar move back in 2018, Belgium enforced a blanket ban on loot boxes in games, with the Belgium Gaming Commission ruling that such activities contravene gambling laws. Non-compliance incurs fines and possible imprisonment, penalties that double if minors are involved.