The president of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) has signed a ban on loot boxes for under 18s into law. This ban is set to go into effect in March 2026.
This ban comes as part of a wider digital protection law aimed at protecting young people from abuse and exploitation online. Chapter seven of the law focused on electronic games prohibits loot boxes aimed at children or adolescents for games without an 18+ age rating.
In addition, the law requires games that are likely to have adolescents interact with other people through text, audio, or video messages to adhere to legal safeguards. These include a report system, information on the progress of said reports, and instruments to request review and reconsideration of imposed penalties.
Debates surrounding a loot box ban have been widespread and global for years now. Back in 2022 Dutch political parties backed a loot box ban, however after some deliberation there was no outright ban. Loot boxes were declared illegal in Belgium back in 2018, though in the following years it’s become clear this hasn’t been strictly enforced. The UK has slapped some game companies on the wrist due to not declaring loot boxes in advertisements, but a ban has been far from reach.
As such, this Brazilian ban for under 18s is a big step forward for those against loot boxes, putting up barriers between what many consider gambling mechanics and younger people. It’s been a long time coming, with investigations into loot boxes starting in 2021. There remain two larger questions: will clear age ratings for games actually prevent young people from buying loot boxes in games they want, and will this law’s implementation in a strong market for video games influence change in the industry at large?