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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 28, 2018 12:59 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Lawrence M. Farnese, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | PGCB Study of "Loot Boxes" |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution directing the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to study whether video game “loot boxes” are a form of gambling under Pennsylvania law. “Loot boxes” are randomized, in-game virtual items that are available for purchase. The contents of the boxes vary and many games do not include the odds of obtaining the items. The use of “loot boxes” has raised a number of concerns, including accessibility to minors and lack of disclosure and transparency. Legislatures in Hawaii and Washington have already introduced bills to address this issue and legislators from Connecticut, North Carolina, Georgia and Minnesota have also publicly expressed concerns. For this reason, I will be directing the PGCB to gather information on “loot boxes” and determine whether the games and applications that use them are a form of gambling. The study will also produce information on the risks to minors having access to “loot boxes” and identify areas for the state to regulate. The study and findings will be reported to the Senate Community Economic and Recreational Development Committee and the House Gaming Oversight Committee. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SR374