This Safer Internet Day (Tuesday, 11 February 2025), Australian parents and carers are being reminded to check the classification of video games to ensure children are playing video games that are appropriate for them.
The Australian Government has updated the guidelines for video game classifications to help families make informed choices about the games their children play.
Under the new system, video games with in-game purchases linked to elements of chance — such as paid loot boxes, will receive an ‘M’ rating or higher.
Games that contain simulated gambling, such as casino-style mechanics or in-game betting, will receive an ‘R 18+’ rating, restricting them to adults.
The new classifications only apply to new video games. Existing games aren’t affected unless they’re updated with new content and need to be reclassified.
“With more Australian children gaming online than ever, Safer Internet Day is a great chance to talk to children about safe gaming, including the risks of exposure to gambling behaviours,” Director of the Australian Classification Board, Steven Thomson said.
Research shows that exposure to gambling-like content in games can be associated with a range of harms and can normalise gambling behaviours, particularly in young players. These new video game classifications aim to give parents and carers the information they need to help reduce the risk of children being exposed to gambling harms throughout their lives.
Top tips for parents this Safer Internet Day
- Check the classification: Look for the classification rating on game packaging or digital downloads on the app store. Classification ratings can also be found by searching the title of the video game on the classification.gov.au website. These ratings help you quickly identify games suitable for your child’s age as well as specific types of content present in the game you may wish to avoid.
- Learn and play your child’s video games: Learning about your child’s favourite
games can help you understand how the games work and if they contain gambling-like content. Understanding the game and how the mechanics work can help you start conversations about the risks of gambling if needed. - Check to see whether your credit card details are saved to the devices your children use for gaming. Some devices, app stores and games allow credit card details to be saved for convenience. This means that your children could make purchases on your device or their own devices using saved card details without your permission. If you are concerned about your children making purchases without your permission, you may want to consider removing saved credit card details from devices or consoles.
- Use parental controls: Most consoles and devices let you set age-based controls, limit in-game purchases, or monitor playtime. Take a few minutes to set these up or review them before gaming begins.
- Have a conversation: These new ratings provide the opportunity to have a conversation with your kids. Talk to your kids about the games they play. Discuss why some games might not be appropriate or the risks they carry.
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