Grooming minors through gambling-like gaming practice
- Wits University
Gaming is often benign, however, certain digital gaming environments expose minors to gambling‑like behaviour.
South African youth are increasingly engaged with digital games, including video games, in a various forms. While gaming is often benign, certain digital gaming environments expose minors to gambling?like behaviour, including:
- Virtual currencies and bundling
- Paid randomised rewards (such as loot boxes, packs, and cases)
- Behavioural design features
- Scarcity mechanisms and time?limited purchase pressure
Professor Michele van Eck from the School of Law weighed in on this topic during a webinar hosted by the Mandela Institute at Wits University. Van Eck, who specialises in contract law, legal ethics, law and language, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and smart contracts, brought valuable insight to this emerging regulatory challenge. With over a decade of legal practice experience and recognised thought leadership on technology and ethics, she provided a critical legal lens on the protection of minors in digital gaming environments.
The webinar examined when gaming began to resemble gambling and explored how mechanics such as loot boxes, reward loops, and in?game purchasing systems contributed to what was described as 'gambling grooming'. Particular attention was given to the gradual normalisation of gambling?like behaviour among minors within gaming environments.
The session further considered when these practices may have crossed legal boundaries. From a South African perspective, it examined whether the National Gambling Act 7 of 2004 and the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 offered protection where minors were exposed to manipulative in?game spending tactics, unclear pricing structures, or misleading design features
Professor van Eck, who specialises in contract law, legal ethics, law and language, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and smart contracts, brought valuable insight to this emerging regulatory challenge. With over a decade of legal practice experience and recognised thought leadership on technology and ethics, she provided a critical legal lens on the protection of minors in digital gaming environments.
Are you a Wits employee and need parental advice? Contact the University's Employee Wellness Programme.