Regulation of loot boxes - How lottery-like mechanisms in video games are and should be regulated

The issue of this thesis is the regulation loot boxes (virtual containers embedded in certain video games holding randomly determined in-game items) from de lege lata and de lege ferenda points of view. A central question is whether some loot box implementations fulfil the definition of a lottery in Section 1 of the Lottery Act and thus whether they fall within the ambit of the Norwegian gambling regime. Further, commercial practices related to loot boxes are analysed in light of the Marketing Act. Finally, the thesis presents two potential solutions for more efficient regulation of these video game mechanisms that have been alleged to blur the lines between gaming and gambling