A class action lawsuit has been brought against Apple over alleged "predatory practices" regarding loot boxes on the App Store.
Filed with the US District Court of Northern California, the lawsuit levels claims against Apple of unlawful and unfair business practices, unfair and deceptive acts and practices, and unfair enrichment.
"Through the games it sells and offers for free to consumers through its AppStore, Apple engages in predatory practices enticing consumers, including children to engage in gambling and similar addictive conduct in violation of this and other laws designed to protect consumers and to prohibit such practices," reads the filing.
There is currently no legal or academic consensus in the US on whether loot boxes constitute gambling, but several governmental and academic bodies around the world have argued that loot boxes should fall under local gambling legislation, or is linked to problem gambling..
Much of the lawsuit argument however hinges on the definition of gambling outlined by the California Penal Code, which states that an illegal gambling device has three features: it is a machine, aperture, or device; something of value is given to play; and the player may receive something of value by element of chance.

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