Denmark Campaign on Gambling Mechanics in Video Games

Denmark's gambling authority Spillemyndigheden has announced a new campaign highlighting gambling-like features found in video games. The campaign starts on October 26 and aims to get parents talking with their children about games of chance.

The authority stresses that millions of children and adults play video games safely. However, developments in the sector have led to the spread of gambling-like practices such as loot boxes and mechanics known as "gacha." Some of these features require real money to be spent, while others create a similar thrill without directly prompting any purchase.

The campaign launch includes a new television advertisement in which a father enters his child's room and finds it transformed into a casino filled with slot machines. The campaign will also spread through social media. As part of the campaign, three stores in Denmark have been decorated with a "Casino Kids" poster. The authority says it intends this provocative message to draw attention to the issue.

People can find information about gambling features in games and the risks of addiction on the StyrPåSpillet.dk platform, which the campaign points to. The platform also offers parents and educators suggestions on how to address the subject with children.

Anders Dorph, director of the authority, said that understanding the content of games is just as important as managing children's screen time. Dorph noted that discussions often focus on screen time, but the mechanisms children encounter during play and the content of games deserve equal attention.