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https://theconversation.com/gambling-for-children-why-australia-should-consider-regulating-blind-box-toys-like-labubu-276163>
"If you walk through any major shopping mall in Australia, chances are you’ll
encounter products and experiences that are uncomfortably similar to gambling –
yet they are available to anyone, including children.
Our soon-to-be-published research has found claw machines, blind boxes and toy
capsule machines have become pervasive in the spaces families frequent – from
the shops, to the movies, to the pub.
We call these products and experiences gamble-play media. They rely on and
profit from risk-taking, and encourage intense, continuous playful consumption
in the quest to “win” a desired item.
While claw machines have been a part of Australia’s consumer culture for a long
time, blind boxes are the most recent gamble-play media to become mainstream.
In Singapore, lawmakers and consumer advocates are pushing to regulate blind
boxes due to the gambling inducement risks they carry, according to a written
address to parliament from Home Affairs Minister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam.
It may be time for Australia to contemplate a similar move, given our nation’s
insidious gambling culture and tendency towards problem gambling.
Indeed, gambling among children has become a national crisis, with a report
from the Australia Institute highlighting 30% of 12–17 year-olds gamble at
least once per year."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
