CLAIM DETAILS
Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP (“RPLE LLP”) has a proposed class action against Valve Corporation, alleging that Valve has operated an unlicensed gambling system through its video games since 2010. The actions target Valve’s Loot Box System, through which Valve has collected real money from Canadian players, including minors, in exchange for randomized virtual rewards.
Valve Corporation is the company behind the Steam Platform, which offers popular titles including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2. Valve is now facing legal action over its Loot Box system, through which it offers for sale Loot Box Keys to open Crates within these games. While Crates are distributed to players at no cost through in-game activity, players must separately purchase a Loot Box Key, currently priced at $2.49 USD, to open them, receiving a randomized virtual item of unknown identity and value at the time of opening.
These virtual items carry real monetary value and can be bought, sold, and traded on Valve’s own Steam Community Market and third-party cash marketplaces. Plaintiffs argue this structure uses Variable Ratio Reinforcement, deliberately mimicking how slot machines operate, including through near-miss animations designed to encourage continued spending, and constitutes an unlicensed gambling scheme that has operated in Canada since 2010.
Who Qualifies (Class Definition):
All persons in Canada who, between September 30, 2010, and the date of certification, purchased or otherwise paid directly or indirectly for Loot Box Keys or Crates in any of the Affected Titles (the “National Class”).
All persons in Quebec who, between September 30, 2010, and the date of authorization, purchased or otherwise paid directly or indirectly for Loot Box Keys or Crates in any of the Affected Titles (the “Quebec Class”).
