Latest News
Finland starts probe into loot boxes
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Finland has started an enquiry into practice of using loot box systems in video games. This is following the official sanction and controversy surrounding loot boxes in European countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands.
Here is a brief history of loot boxes for the uninitiated.
Loot boxes have been part and parcel of some video games for over a decade. The early days of these systems were used in free-to-play games and MMORPGs, but the last few years have seen them creep into regular games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS and others.
A number of investigative bodies in different governments have undertaken investigations into the legality of these systems and whether or not they run afoul of gambling regulations. The state of Hawai’i in the United States and The Netherlands have begun movement on some sort of regulation and Belgium’s decisions on the matter have recently caused Blizzard Entertainment to remove the ability to buy loot boxes for Heroes of the Storm and Overwatch in that country. Belgium’s gaming commission has even begun the steps for legal action against Electronic Arts over their decision not to comply with the ruling of loot boxes as gambling. Finland appears to be the next country to begin investigating these practices.
According to a statement from Finland’s Lotteries Administration supplied to Helsingin Sanomat, four conditions must be satisfied for a loot box system to be considered gambling in that country:
Loot boxes can be purchased partly or entirely with real-world money.
Players do not know what they will receive from the box (that is, they’re random).
The box or its contents can be exchanged for real-world money either through the game’s publisher or through a third party.
The publisher of the game does not have a lottery license.
In short, it seems that the primary condition for these systems to run afoul of the law in Finland is the ability to make real-world money on them. Going by my interpretation of these conditions, a game where you cannot sell the boxes or their contents back to the publisher or to a third party like Overwatch would likely not be in breach of the law but games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS may indeed be illegal under those regulations.
Ultimately, whether or not loot box mechanics are legal in Finland is a matter that will have to be decided by the courts interpreting the law as its written. At this point in time, no precedent has been set in this particular area of law. However, the first few complaints have been filed and we may see some decisions coming down in the near future if they advance to a trial.
Source: TechRaptor
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

Latest News
Game On! Win Acer’s New RTX 50 Series Laptop + PC Game Pass
Acer UK Levels Up the Game: Win a Brand-New NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Gaming Laptop and Unleash Hundreds of Titles with Included PC Game Pass!
Acer UK is thrilled to announce an electrifying competition giving gamers the chance to win a state-of-the-art Predator or Nitro laptop, powered by the brand-new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs! This grand giveaway celebrates the highly anticipated arrival of Acer’s latest gaming powerhouses and highlights the incredible value of PC Game Pass, now included with all new Nitro and Predator devices.
Enter the Competition Here: gleam.io/PQDpw/50-series-laptop-and-pc-game-pass-competition
The gaming landscape is constantly evolving, and Acer is at the forefront, delivering cutting-edge technology designed to immerse players in unparalleled virtual worlds. The new Predator Helios Neo 16 AI laptop, featuring the formidable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, is now available at leading retailers including Amazon, Box, and Currys. For those seeking even more power, Acer’s official store is now stocking models with the groundbreaking RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080, offering next-generation performance and AI capabilities for the most demanding games and creative tasks.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Every new Nitro and Predator device now comes with PC Game Pass included, ensuring that gamers have immediate access to a vast library of hundreds of high-quality titles from the moment they unbox their new machine. No more waiting, no more separate purchases – just plug in and play!
To amplify the buzz, this competition will be supported by renowned gaming influencers Two Angry Gamers and Frankie Ward. Their extensive reach and passionate communities will help spread the word, giving more gamers the chance to win and experience Acer’s cutting-edge hardware paired with an incredible game library.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the power of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series to our Predator and Nitro laptop lines,” says Mike Newson, Gaming Notebook Business Manager at Acer UK. “These new machines, especially the Predator Helios 18 AI and the Predator Triton 14 AI, represent a significant leap in gaming performance and AI integration. By bundling PC Game Pass and collaborating with beloved gaming personalities like Two Angry Gamers and Frankie Ward, we’re not just offering powerful hardware; we’re providing an instant gateway to an endless world of gaming entertainment and ensuring our message reaches the heart of the gaming community. It’s about delivering the complete, immersive experience our users deserve.”
PC Game Pass: Your Ultimate Gaming Library Just Got Bigger!
Microsoft’s PC Game Pass continues to grow, offering an incredible selection of games for every taste. Recent exciting additions that gamers can dive into include:
- FBC: Firebreak – A cooperative first-person shooter available day one on Game Pass!
- Rematch – A thrilling third-person, team-based football game.
- Warcraft I: Remastered, Warcraft II: Remastered, and Warcraft III: Reforged – Relive the epic beginnings of the legendary Warcraft universe.
- Call of Duty: WWII – Experience intense historical combat.
- Looking ahead, July brings even more to the service with Little Nightmares II and Rise of the Tomb Raider returning to the library.
With new titles added regularly, PC Game Pass ensures there’s always something fresh and exciting to explore on your new Acer gaming laptop.
Don’t miss your chance to win the ultimate gaming upgrade! Enter the competition today and prepare to experience gaming like never before with Acer’s new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptops and PC Game Pass.
Availability: The new Predator Helios Neo 16 AI laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series is available now at Amazon, Box, and Currys. Models featuring the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 are available directly from the Acer Store.
Social Media: #Acer #Predator #Nitro #RTX50Series #PCGamePass #GamingLaptop #Competition #Giveaway #TwoAngryGamers #FrankieWard
The post Game On! Win Acer’s New RTX 50 Series Laptop + PC Game Pass appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
iGB L!VE confirm London iGaming Week program
Clarion Gaming has announced details of London iGaming Week, a program of immersive curated events, seminars and parties centred around iGB L!VE and taking place at iconic London venues.
Confirming the programme, Naomi Barton, Global Portfolio Director responsible for iGB L!VE said: “London iGaming Week is an amazing opportunity for the global iGaming industry to come together for a week of connection, innovation, and celebration.
“Running 1 July – 4 July it features social events such as the iGB Affiliate Awards, the EGR B2B Awards, Welcome Drinks in Canary Wharf, and the Legends by Fire and ICE celebration.
“It also includes unique opportunities to network and learn at the iGB Start-Up Accelerator, the Affiliate and Operator Mixer and Technology in Gaming, the inaugural conference for senior technology professionals sponsored by Pretty Technical on Tuesday 1 July.
She added: “An initiative that we are extremely excited about is our deeper partnership with LatAm Media Group which will see us stage the first ever London LMG Futbol Experience. Taking place on Friday 4th July, the live-streamed 6-a-side football tournament will be played on a state-of-the-art 5G pitch with games officiated by fully qualified referees.
“Delivering a mixture of competition and camaraderie it’s a fantastic milestone which will build on iGB L!VE’s reputation for running the most popular business, networking and social iGaming events of the year.”
London iGaming Week represents a high profile addition to what will be the biggest edition of iGB L!VE on record. The first show to take place in London following its relocation from Amsterdam it will provide attendees with access to over 22,000sqm of product innovation and inspiration.
Connecting igaming operators, affiliates, tech vendors and game providers, iGB L!VE will welcome a projected 15,000 iGaming and affiliate pioneers helping businesses throughout the ecosystem to navigate the iGaming landscape, provide networking opportunities, showcase cutting-edge innovations and share crucial market knowledge.
For more information and to register for iGB L!VE, 2 – 3 JULY 2025, ExCeL London: igblive.com
The post iGB L!VE confirm London iGaming Week program appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to do battle against Namibia – AEC25
Mind Sports South Africa’s Protea Female CS2 team, led by captain Jess Greeff and featuring Avonique van Rooyen, dominated IESF’s AEC24, and emerged undefeated, and punched their ticket to the world stage. The female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title are trailblazers in female esports and are already making their mark internationally.
To qualify for IESF’s World Esports Championships 2025 (WEC25), South Africa’s Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title will be taking on Namibia at15H00 on 21 June 2025.
South Africa’s Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title has never lost to Namibia, and both MSSA and the team are confident that the result will be the same as all previous encounters.
The team has shown a few changes from 2024. Jessica Greeff remains the captain, and Avonique van Rooyen and Megan van der Westhuizen too stay on the team with their vast international experience. The two new additions are Kiera McCullum and Kalee Ludick who further add to the team.
MSSA is of the belief that the 2025 Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title is the strongest female Counter Strike 2 team to ever represent South Africa.
The full team to represent South Africa at15H00 on 21 June 2025 is:
Name | Club | Nick | Province |
Jessica Eleez Greeff (Capt.) | ZAG Academy | heartjess | KwaZulu Natal |
Avonique van Rooyen | ZAG Academy | avo | Gauteng |
Kiera McCallum | ZAG Academy | queen | KwaZulu Natal |
Megan van der Westhuizen | ZAG Academy | m3gz | Gauteng |
Kalee Ludick | ZAG Academy | creative | Gauteng |
The post Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to do battle against Namibia – AEC25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News3 months ago
SARA TENDULKAR JOINS JETSYNTHESYS’ GLOBAL E-CRICKET PREMIER LEAGUE AS MUMBAI FRANCHISE OWNER FOR SEASON 2
-
Latest News2 months ago
Exclusive Q&A With Bar Konson, Chief Business Development Officer at NuxGame
-
Latest News2 months ago
Week 17/2025 slot games releases
-
Latest News2 months ago
Fortuna Partners with 2025 UEFA Under-21 EURO
-
Latest News2 months ago
Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025
-
Latest News1 month ago
ELA Games Receives Key Nomination at EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards
-
Latest News3 months ago
DreamPlay consolidates its status as a global player in the iGaming industry and opens an office and campus in Cyprus
-
Latest News2 months ago
ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES
You must be logged in to post a comment Login