to ask you not to let your children buy in-game "lootboxes"

[Nimbostratus100]

These are in-game purchases, when you spend money on a closed box, and take a chance on what you end up with.

It is against the law for children to gamble, yet these in-game purchases are gambles, and gambling alters the brain, and addiction is a very real possibility as children's brains acclimatise to gambling from such a young age.

They become addicted to the thrill of exchanging money for a probability

These are very harmful. Please dont let your child get ensnared by these - they are even in games such as Fifa, and in games marketed as suitable for children as young as 4.

I dont know why these are not illegal for children. They should be

www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/fifa-22-packs-use-wide-arsenal-of-tricks-to-exploit-players-says-report-3238062

Some countries see it as a problem. (Obviously it's not just FIFA which is problematic)

YANBU. There is so much evidence to say it is a problem.

Just one, it may not be a problem at that age, but it is setting them on a path that could lead to problem gambling.

igamingbusiness.com/social-responsibility/gambleaware-report-suggests-link-between-loot-boxes-and-problem-gambling/

It is gambling as far as your brain chemistry is concerned. And that's the issue.

The most effective way of training a dog is random, intermittent rewards. Which is exactly what gambling is. It's highly addictive and training children to gamble is a very bad idea.

There are lots of articles on the BBC,

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48908766