Gambling and loot boxes in games to get harsher rules in Australia

Some of the world's harshest ratings laws are about to get even harsher

Re-releases of games like Pokémon Red and Blue could be restricted to buyers over the age of 18 in Australia, should the government get its way. A new proposal from the Federal Government of Australia would see any game with simulated gambling immediately rated 18+, and put new age restrictions on loot boxes.

Australia’s Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland released a media statement earlier today, outlining key reforms to the country’s classification scheme. After a years-long review of Australia’s already harsh rating system, the Australian government wants to introduce two big changes to how games are rated.

The first major change is that any game with loot boxes would be automatically given an M rating or above, which indicates that the game is intended for a mature audience above the age of 15. Notably, the M rating does not restrict the sale of games to those under 15, essentially acting as a guideline for parents and purchasers.

Australia has a separate rating for games that are legally unable to be sold to anyone under the age of 15, confusingly called MA, or MA15+ Restricted. Prior to 2012, the MA15+ rating was the highest age rating available for games in Australia, and many games were refused classification because of it.

The country has since introduced an R18+ rating for video games, inline with its film and TV classifications, but is generally still much harsher than many would hope. The Australian Classification Board has come under fire multiple times for refusing classification on games that feature even the smallest amount of drug use, despite films featuring drugs typically passing the process.

That R18+ rating could soon be getting a workout, though, as the Australian government also wants to make any game with “simulated gambling mechanics” immediately rated R18+. Like MA15+, R-rated games cannot legally be sold to anyone under the age of 18, and many retailers require photo ID when making purchases of these games.

If the government is successful in making these changes – which first have to be cleared by every state and territory unanimously – it could mean games like EA's FIFA, currently rated G for general audiences, would be immediately bumped to an M rating, thanks to its Ultimate Team packs, which were recently ruled as illegal gambling in Austria (not to be confused with Australia).

It could also have dire effects for older games as they get re-released. Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, and their generation 2 and 3 follow-ups, all feature simulated slot machines, and would be immediately restricted to R18+ if the changes are made. Red and Blue were given a G rating when classified in 2016 for their release on the 3DS eShop.

Changing the law around video game classification is a lengthy and complicated process, so it’s unlikely this proposal will come into effect any time soon, if at all.

Still, as a number of countries start to grapple with the effect of gambling and loot boxes in games, this could act as a blueprint for what’s to come around the world.