Video game ratings will be reviewed in Australia from Monday 22nd September to help curb the exposure of “gambling-like” content. This includes loot boxes and could affect some of the biggest games such as NBA 2K, EA Football Club and Go crazy.
First introduced last yearChanges to Australia's Computer Games Classification Guidelines 2023 includes two New mandatory classifications – one for games “containing elements of chance” which will be rated ‘M’ (Mature or not recommended for children under 15), while games “containing simulated gambling” will receive an R 18+ rating.
Under these new guidelines, the “M” rating is an advisory rating, while the R18+ rating is a legal restriction, meaning that only people who meet that age requirement can be sold that game. Here’s a brief rundown of how these new ratings will affect video games going forward:
- M (Mature – not recommended for children under 15 years): Games that contain loot boxes with “chance elements” or random rewards that can be purchased with real-world currency, either directly or through in-game currency.
- R 18+ (Restricted to adults only): Games that consist solely of “gambling simulation” activities, such as slot machine or roulette simulators, and those that have interactive activities such as slot machine simulators, roulette or other age-restricted gambling or betting services (such as a role-playing game with slot machines that players can use)
According to the Australian government, these guidelines will now be in line with those of the rest of the world. ESRB ratings in the United States (and Canada and Mexico) do not operate on the same system as in Australia, although its E (everyone), E+ (everyone 10+), T (teen), M (17+) and A (adults 18+ only) ratings provide a similar result.
While the two rating systems are similar, the new Australian ratings are actually stricter than the ESRB's, as they will restrict “simulated games” to adults only, while real-money gambling gets the 18+ rating under the ESRB rating.
Fortunately, only new game releases will be subject to updated ratings, though some existing titles will be reclassified if they've added gambling-related content after the guidelines go into effect on September 22.
What does this really change?
It is clear that social casino games like Zynga Poker and Slotomania – which only simulate real-life gambling – will be classified as R 18+. But what about a game like Red Dead Redemption 2Which has a MA-15+ rating? It has a very realistic poker game that does not use or require real money. There are also several futuristic ways to bet at the recent M-rated casino. Star Wars Outlaws.
While, as with any restriction, there is scope for leniency and circumvention of the rules (as there are no real poker machines), if the guidelines are strict, they will be considered over 18s if they qualify after September 22. There will no doubt be stories of gambling fighting the Australian ratings board in the coming months, but any step against normalising gambling is a positive one. Adults can do what they like, but gambling has long been a social problem and Australian children are constantly bombarded with adverts from betting agencies.
The real change will come in games intended, or previously intended, for children and young adolescents. The sports games mentioned above, such as Go crazy and FIFA They have long-lasting loot boxes as well as kid-friendly mobile games like Super Mario Racebut in reality it was like that Supervision and Star Wars: Battlefront 2 In 2016 and 2017, this put them in the spotlight. In fact, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Plos One, the number of players exposed to loot boxes increased from just 5.3% in 2010 to 71.2% in 2019.
There is evidence that loot boxes and similar systems have a negative impact on children and the gaming industry is only growing, meaning that more and more children will be playing video games. It remains to be seen how much the new classification will help prevent them from risking 100 virtual coins for a 1% chance of obtaining a golden donkey via a loot box.
