The first step in the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's involvement in Loot Boxes was held today

Link for those interested:
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events-calendar/inside-game-unlocking-consumer-issues-surrounding-loot-boxes

A summary of the panel's discussion will be added to the FTC page. You can probably find news articles on it already.

A couple of interesting results:
* Several major publishers aling with Sony and Microsoft announced they would add prize odds disclosures for new games or new additions to games. Sony and Microsoft appear to be considering disclosures as a requirement moving forward
* Major publishers appear to suddenly have become champions of odds disclosures
* There appears to be a 'management company' that manages streamers. This company makes money by promoting the opening of loot boxes by streamers as 'entertainment' for those who cannot afford to buy their own. This 'management company' also claims that odds are skewed by video game publishers for 'promotional purposes', but when pressed by the FTC, he backed off the statement, stating that he was in a room once where skewed odds were mentioned.

For those unfamiliar with FTC proceedings, one or more panels are followed by a public comment period, typically 90 days. Some point afterwards, usually a few months, the FTC will take action. Action may be advice to the Congress, an agreement with an industry to self-regulation ( which is binding, by the way), promulgation of new regulations, or enforcement.

It's likely that the Feds will encourage self-regulation with continuing oversight by the FTC, especially if publishers and platforms agree to a reasonable standard that provides adequate public protection.