New York sues Counter-Strike game developer saying ‘loot boxes’ promote gambling

Key Highlights

• “Valve has made billions of dollars by letting children and adults alike illegally gamble for the chance to win valuable virtual prizes,” James said in a statement.
• “These features are addictive, harmful, and illegal.”Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday for the Bellevue, Washington-based company.
• “Loot box” items are generally cosmetic, such as a hat for a player’s character or an artistic skin for weapons.
• They usually don’t serve any vital function in the games, but James’ office said the items can still be sold online for significant sums. Some of the rarest items can go for thousands of dollars online, according to James’ office.
• One item, an AK-47 Counter-Strike skin, recently sold for more than $1 million. James’ suit says Valve is violating New York’s constitution by promoting gambling in its games.