AmyBlackwood

Only to a minority. That's why gambling legislation in the UK is always careful to give the maximum protection to those who are vulnerable while respecting the right of others to gamble in a free country. An example of this happening is with fixed odds betting machines. People were betting up to £100 on a single bet over and over for hours on end, but instead of outright banning the machines, the government reduced the maximum bet allowed to £2. In a different world where SL can allow gambling, LL could do the same by limiting what you can charge on a Gacha. But sadly too many governments think carpet bans of things will save the world...

You could ask that question of anyone making money on the internet. What's the plan if YouTube poofs tomorrow, or eBay goes up in flames? You make the most of the opportunities of today, save for rainy days and cross the bridge when you have to.

In substance it's no different to gachas. It just requires one extra purchase to (hopefully) get what you want. Fans of gacha will barely notice the difference.

From which governments? Not even Belgium law defines the conveyor belt vendor as gambling. You can't be punished for following the letter of the law even if it circumvents the spirit of the law.

The UK definitely isn't banning loot boxes by the end of the year, and may never ban them. The sports minister said "the review will seek to strike a careful balance between individual freedom and protecting the vulnerable.” A House of Lords report concurred, saying loot boxes "should be regulated" rather than outright banned.