102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2943

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Barbara Hernandez - Jonathan Carroll - Jawaharial Williams, Lakesia Collins and Michael J. Zalewski

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
815 ILCS 505/2WWW new

    Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a warning must be displayed when an interactive digital entertainment product utilizes a loot box in its operations. Sets forth the contents of the warning. Provides that a failure to display the required warning is an unlawful practice. Defines terms.


LRB102 02874 JLS 12883 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2943LRB102 02874 JLS 12883 b

1    AN ACT concerning business.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
5Practices Act is amended by adding Section 2WWW as follows:
 
6    (815 ILCS 505/2WWW new)
7    Sec. 2WWW. Limitation on publication or distribution of
8video games that utilize loot boxes.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Add-on transaction" means, with respect to an interactive
11digital entertainment product, a payment to the game publisher
12of an interactive digital entertainment product, an affiliate
13of the publisher, or any other person who accepts the payment
14for the benefit of the publisher, of either money or an in-game
15proxy for money, such as a virtual currency, that can be
16purchased with money, that:
17        (1) unlocks a feature of the product; or
18        (2) adds to or enhances the entertainment value of the
19    product.
20    "Digital game distributor" means a person that, for
21commercial purposes, in interstate or foreign commerce,
22distributes an interactive digital entertainment product over
23an online platform to over 1,000 users annually.

 

 

HB2943- 2 -LRB102 02874 JLS 12883 b

1    "Game publisher" means a person that, for commercial
2purposes, in interstate or foreign commerce, develops or
3finances the development of an interactive digital
4entertainment product that is distributed to over 1,000 users
5annually.
6    "Interactive digital entertainment product" means a
7program such as a video game that is accessed by a connected
8device and provides an interactive entertainment experience
9for the user.
10    "Loot box" means an add-on transaction to an interactive
11digital entertainment product that:
12        (1) in a randomized or partially randomized fashion:
13            (A) unlocks a feature of the product; or
14            (B) adds to or enhances the entertainment value of
15        the product; or
16        (2) allows the user to make one or more additional
17    add-on transactions:
18            (A) that the user could not have made without
19        making the first add-on transaction; and
20            (B) the content of which is unknown to the user
21        until after the user has made the first add-on
22        transaction.
23    (b) An interactive digital entertainment product that
24utilizes a loot box must display a warning immediately before
25a consumer may access the loot box. The warning shall be
26conspicuously displayed and contain the following:

 

 

HB2943- 3 -LRB102 02874 JLS 12883 b

1    "Attention Parents: A Loot Box System exists in this game
2that permits an unlimited amount of REAL MONEY to be spent
3without any age restriction. REAL MONEY is exchanged for
4random digital items. This process has been linked to REAL
5LIFE GAMBLING ADDICTIONS in both children and adults. Please
6regulate your own spending as well as your children's
7spending.".
8    (c) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this
9Act for a digital game distributor to distribute an
10interactive digital entertainment product that utilizes a loot
11box and that does not display the warning required under
12subsection (b).
13    (d) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this
14Act for a game publisher to publish an interactive digital
15entertainment product that utilizes a loot box and that does
16not display the warning required under subsection (b).
17    (e) A digital game distributor that violates this Section
18commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act
19and, in addition, is liable in a civil action for damages
20resulting from the violation.
21    (f) A game publisher that violates this Section commits an
22unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and, in
23addition, is liable in a civil action for damages resulting
24from the violation.