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New York sues video game developer Valve, says its 'loot boxes' are gambling
Reuters ^ | 02 25 2026 | Jonathan Stempel

Posted on 02/26/2026 6:15:25 AM PST by yesthatjallen

New York's attorney general sued Valve, a video game developer whose franchises include Counter-Strike, Team Fortress and Dota, accusing it of promoting illegal gambling and threatening to addict children through its use of "loot boxes."

In a complaint filed on Wednesday in a state court in Manhattan, Attorney General Letitia James said Valve's loot boxes amounted to "quintessential gambling," violating the state's constitution and penal law, with valuable items often hard to win and many items worth pennies.

Valve, based in Bellevue, Washington, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Loot boxes let players use real money to buy chances to win virtual items, such as decorations for characters and weapons, in an effort to convey status.

James said Valve generated billions of dollars of revenue by selling "keys" to open loot boxes, including in one game where the process resembled a slot machine as a wheel whirred through various items before stopping.

The attorney general said key sales advanced Valve's unusual business model of letting players sell items they won on its virtual marketplace, Steam Community Market, and on other marketplaces.

"Valve’s loot boxes are particularly pernicious because they are popular among children and adolescents," according to the complaint.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: gambling; letitiajames; lootboxes; valve

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1 posted on 02/26/2026 6:15:25 AM PST by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

Good grief, this is not new though, libs have been trying to destroy loot boxes specifically and gaming in general for years now, the community is to free thinking to be ignored.

Just my opinion.


2 posted on 02/26/2026 6:18:14 AM PST by Skwor
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To: yesthatjallen

This is nothing new. Valve is just one of many who do this.

Plenty of Pay to win Mobile games that do this and a lot of “Free to play” games.

At least Valve games are generally cosmetics and not needed.

If this lawsuit stands(I do not think it should, especially against valve) it will change the entire industry, which IMO is in need of a good hard shake up in its practices of revenue generation


3 posted on 02/26/2026 6:20:17 AM PST by SPDSHDW (A sinner saved by Jesus)
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To: yesthatjallen

Nah, you can win at gambling. Loot boxes are just a ripoff.


4 posted on 02/26/2026 6:24:38 AM PST by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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To: yesthatjallen

“We are allowed to loot. You are not allowed to loot.”

— Every Democrat


5 posted on 02/26/2026 6:25:01 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: yesthatjallen

Just like the EU now when he needs cash he’ll sue ,LOL


6 posted on 02/26/2026 6:26:08 AM PST by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: yesthatjallen

Democrats looking for money to fund their campaigns.


7 posted on 02/26/2026 6:27:46 AM PST by Skywise
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To: yesthatjallen

Hunting for a pocket to pick to pay Mandani.


8 posted on 02/26/2026 6:28:47 AM PST by No.6
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To: ClearCase_guy

I do not approve of children playing these games period. I am not in approval of any form of gambling period. However, I extremely agree with your statement. Spot on.


9 posted on 02/26/2026 6:34:15 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: yesthatjallen

Gamers are funny. They’ve been attacking “loot boxes” for years. But when someone sues “good guy Valve,” they’re like, “no, not like that!”


10 posted on 02/26/2026 6:35:30 AM PST by Kleon
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To: yesthatjallen
From the article: Loot boxes let players use real money to buy chances to win virtual items, such as decorations for characters and weapons, in an effort to convey status.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James said Valve generated billions of dollars of revenue by selling "keys" to open loot boxes...

This would describe public education as gambling.

11 posted on 02/26/2026 6:49:44 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: yesthatjallen
Valve just won another frivolous lawsuit against the Rothchilds. They'll win this one too.

That's not the real reason they're going after Valve...

Valve is a company that didn't bend the knee to Black Lives Matter.

Valve is a company that only hires competent people...regardless of their skin tone or confusion about where to put their genitals.

Valve is a completely private, incredibly succesful, company that refuses to give in to ridiculous social initiatives or engage in false purity tests.

And finally...doesn't Letitia have bigger problems to worry about?

12 posted on 02/26/2026 7:06:05 AM PST by Frank Drebin (And don't ever let me catch you guys in America!)
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To: SPDSHDW

HEAR HEAR!

Loot boxes, and microtransactions both need to die in a fire.


13 posted on 02/26/2026 7:44:03 AM PST by FrankRizzo890
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To: yesthatjallen

Pretty sure there was something about a conversation in the Epstein docs that talked about indoctrinating kids into the micropay system.


14 posted on 02/26/2026 7:44:34 AM PST by dware (Americans prefer peaceful slavery over dangerous freedom)
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To: yesthatjallen

I love Counter Strike. Great game! The rest of this mess, meh.


15 posted on 02/26/2026 8:05:22 AM PST by The Louiswu (USA FIRST...USA FOREVER)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

16 posted on 02/26/2026 8:18:57 AM PST by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: yesthatjallen

It is. But, since all gaming (most) went woke and, like Disney, attacked its customer base they have to get $$ somehow.

All of the big gaming shops churn out pre-Beta garbage and then charge for fixes. It is what is has become. Not for profit, but to push the ideology.


17 posted on 02/26/2026 8:40:23 AM PST by bobbo666
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To: yesthatjallen

Pretty rich from the state that has a state lottery, allows casinos and legal sports betting...


18 posted on 02/26/2026 8:49:28 AM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: dware

Everything that you would be allowed to do would be micropay. You will own nothing and you will like it.


19 posted on 02/26/2026 8:52:01 AM PST by gnarledmaw (Hivemind liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives select servants.)
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To: yesthatjallen

My Kidman $700 of a game by selling some kind of “skin.” Don’t ask me how.


20 posted on 02/26/2026 9:40:18 AM PST by Sawdring
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