About This Course
In today’s free-to-play market, loot boxes and other potentially manipulative interface techniques remain powerful—yet legally risky—tools for driving revenue. This CLE course delves into the friction between these popular game mechanics and gambling and consumer-protection frameworks, highlighting how routine design choices can unintentionally steer players toward spending or behavior they didn’t anticipate.
We’ll trace the legal contours shaping this space through prominent disputes and enforcement actions. Among them: Kater v. Churchill Downs, a pivotal case questioning whether virtual chips and currencies—often marketed as having no monetary worth—can nevertheless be treated as gambling “things of value,” and the headline-grabbing FTC action against Epic Games, which resulted in more than half a billion dollars in penalties tied to unwanted in-game purchases and alleged COPPA infractions. Additional examples illustrate how regulators and courts are approaching similar issues across the industry.
The session concludes with a practical discussion on how studios, counsel, and designers can reduce exposure while maintaining compelling gameplay. Attendees will gain frameworks for spotting high-risk mechanics, crafting transparent and player-friendly UX, and aligning monetization with both legal obligations and long-term player trust.
