Latest News

Nearly half of gamers call for restrictions on Microtransactions

Published

5 years ago

May 14, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

33% of gamers purchased a microtransaction (MTX) or loot box at least once a week, with 25-34 year olds most likely to purchase (45%)
Xbox users are slightly more likely to make in-game purchases than PlayStation owners
Call of Duty was labelled the worst offender for MTX by almost a third (29%) of gamers

Almost half (49%) of gaming fans agree that an 18+ age limit should be set for pay-to-access content, according to new research.

The survey, commissioned by gaming publisher, WePC, reveals how gamers are feeling since the pandemic and follows the recent investigation on loot boxes in Belgium, as more European authorities consider banning them altogether.

Microtransactions and gambling

Over a third (33%) of UK gamers purchase a microtransaction or loot box at least once a week, with nearly 1 in 10 (8%) spending over £100 on each purchase occasion. Younger gamers aged 16-24 admitted to spending £17 above the national average of £36. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of this age group also claimed their gaming expenditure in general has seen an increase during the pandemic.

Although a large majority of respondents (69%) agreed that loot boxes promote gambling to younger gamers, only 19% called for them to be banned altogether. Users felt that along with the age limit, a cap on the amount that could be spent (43%) and restrictions on the impact paid content has on core gameplay (26%) would be more effective. Call of Duty was ranked the nation’s least favourite microtransaction offender (29%), followed by FIFA (28%) and Candy Crush (26%)

But some gamers claim it depends on the game in question.

“In COD, your MTX are based around gun skins and animations, so it doesn’t directly affect your abilities to play,” says Leeds-based gamer, Josh Allen.

“FIFA, on the other hand, makes multiplayer experiences so much worse. You can play against someone who has paid to have a better team, which makes them impossible to beat, even if they’re less skilled at the game. That’s why I’ve given up playing FIFA altogether. COD, on the other hand, you can pay for aesthetic but winning is still based on skill.”

Leeds was revealed to be the capital city of microtransactions too (42%), followed closely by Brighton (41%) and London (39%).

Plymouth’s gaming community were the least likely to make in-game purchases (21%), along with Glasgow (23%) and Southampton (24%).

Post-pandemic gaming

Whilst restrictions may have started easing in the UK, reduction in social interaction has had both a financial and emotional impact on gamers.

Nearly half (47%) have admitted their gaming expenditure has increased during the pandemic, with the majority of money going to new video games (38%), online subscriptions (19%) and gaming equipment (19%).

Around 1 in 5 Xbox, Mobile, Nintendo and PC gamers say they spend most of their gaming expenditure on microtransactions.

However, it was Nintendo users that spent the most on loot boxes compared to any other console, with an average of £56 spent per purchase. PC gamers followed closely behind, spending an average of £51 per MTX.

Sophie, an avid Animal Crossing fan and regular Nintendo gamer, has doubled her gaming expenditure since restrictions first came into place last year.

“I’m playing more games so making my way through my library quicker. I’m also buying games so that I can play online with friends and fill in that social gap.”

Will Blears, Marketing Director at WePC said:

“As gamers ourselves, we understand that gaming is skill-based experience and it’s clear from the research that gamers are currently forced to buy into MTX and loot boxes to gain advantages within that experience.”

“The European laws coming into place highlight the concern that is clear, from our survey data, is echoed around the gaming community. Loot boxes could definitely be a gateway into the darker side of gambling and creators need to factor in safety to make sure gaming continues to be enjoyable for all.”

Latest News

Bettormetrics publishes World Cup trading benchmark; Tipico leads uptime ranking

Published

10 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

bettormetrics-publishes-world-cup-trading-benchmark;-tipico-leads-uptime-ranking

Study of 1,752 Big 5 league matches finds a 12-point uptime gap; live World Cup leaderboard to run during the tournament.

Bettormetrics has launched what it calls the first World Cup Trading Performance Benchmark, ranking sportsbooks on in-play market uptime ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The sports odds intelligence firm said it will publish a live World Cup leaderboard on its website during the tournament to track trading performance.

The benchmark measures operator uptime on the Total Goals market across 1,752 fixtures in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. Bettormetrics analysed 22 operators and published a Top 10, reporting a gap of more than 12 percentage points between the highest and lowest performers.

Tipico ranked first overall with 95.9% uptime, followed by Fanatics (95.3%) and Betsson (94.9%). Superbet (94.8%) and Betano (94.7%) rounded out the top five. Bettormetrics said Premier League fixtures generally delivered the highest availability across operators, while La Liga was “the key differentiator” and “consistently produced the lowest availability figures across the field.”

The results also highlighted regional shifts. Bettormetrics noted that none of bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes or Paddy Power made the Top 10, while Fanatics placed second overall as the highest-ranked US operator. It also flagged Pinnacle and SBOBET as ranking poorly on in-play availability in this analysis despite “strong reputations for pregame pricing and market depth.”

Sabin Brooks, CEO of Bettormetrics, said: “The World Cup represents one of the highest-risk and highest-opportunity periods in the sportsbook calendar. Small differences in uptime, trading performance and market availability can have a material impact on turnover, profitability and even reputation.

“The World Cup leaderboard will answer one simple question: which sportsbook performed best when it matters most?”

The post Bettormetrics publishes World Cup trading benchmark; Tipico leads uptime ranking appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GoldenRace

GoldenRace to showcase V5 mobile betting solution at Peru Gaming Show 2026

Published

12 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

goldenrace-to-showcase-v5-mobile-betting-solution-at-peru-gaming-show-2026

GoldenRace will exhibit at Peru Gaming Show 2026 at the Centro de Exposiciones Jockey in Lima on 17-18 June, where it plans to showcase its new V5 mobile solution, according to the supplier.

The company said the V5 delivery focuses on performance and operator control, with a unified UI/UX built around “ultra-fast performance”, “total brand authority” through customisation, and “intuitive navigation”, including a “one-click hybrid toggle” to access markets.

GoldenRace also plans to highlight its Hit&Win games, including Arcade Heist—“recently crowned with the Game Innovation Award at the SiGMA Africa Awards 2026”—and Fortune Fighters, which the company said is built to run on the V5 infrastructure.

Other products listed for the stand include In-shop Mobile, a retail feature that enables customers to bet on their own devices while in-store, plus virtual Greyhound and Horse Racing content.

The supplier said it will also feature products from other group brands at the show: Spinmatic, Novusbet and Xpress Tech. GoldenRace said attendees can meet the team at stands 11-14.

The post GoldenRace to showcase V5 mobile betting solution at Peru Gaming Show 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

betcore

BetOnGames launches Cricket Strike Crash for its crash games portfolio

Published

13 hours ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

betongames-launches-cricket-strike-crash-for-its-crash-games-portfolio

BetOnGames, the instant games vertical of the BETCORE ecosystem, has launched Cricket Strike Crash, a sports-themed crash game, the company said on June 4, 2026.

Cricket Strike Crash uses a real-time multiplier that increases while the round continues, with players choosing when to cash out before the crash. BetOnGames positions the title for fast-cycle play and mobile-first sessions.

The game ships with a stated RTP of 97.5% and medium volatility. BetOnGames also says Cricket Strike Crash uses a “provably fair system” designed to provide transparency on outcomes.

Cricket Strike Crash joins BetOnGames’ wider instant games catalogue within BETCORE, alongside TVBET and ElCasino. The group offers operators access to crash games, instant win games and slots via a single B2B integration, according to the company.

A product video is available here.

The post BetOnGames launches Cricket Strike Crash for its crash games portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.