Menu
What's New
By:
Filters

Strongbox announcement

Im not a lawyer, nor read the whole law in details but only a few summaries of it, guess I will digg into it a bit when I get some spare time but Im not to worried.

My initial opinion is that it is not players that need to worry, but Mindark, or anyone in risk of arranging an unlicensed gambling event/lottery.

I dont think anyone yet knows how the new law will be applied in reality, so fare I only read articles that claims that lootboxes "might" be considered gambling by the new law, there will probably come a few precedential verdicts during 2019 that will show us how the law is interpreted and applied by the courts probably followed by appeals to the highest court instances and along with that the gaming/gamble companies will start doing the real adaptions.

Mindark/PE(EU) was reviewed in the early 2000s by the Swedish gambling committee (lotteriinspektionen), and was at that time not found to fall under gambling legislation if I remember correctly. If opening "lootboxes" now becomes classified as gambling, this activity in Entropia will be classified as an unlicensed lottery, and Mindark will probably risk heavy penalties for hosting unlicensed lottery. Blocking Swedish IPs from purchasing keys is most likely a first precaution step from Mindark to avoid the risk of hosting such unlicensed lottery to Swedish citizen and protecting them selves and not the player, whom I also find very unlikely to be held resposible for the Gaming companys eventual lack of license. Personally as a player, Im more worried for the IRS and future taxing than the Gambling Committee and participating in unlicensed gambling.

Guess we'll see, :popcorn: For now, IP blocked or not, I'll keep opening boxes, one way or a nother.
 
I can't help but wonder how many strongbox keys are flying off the shelves as we speak :laugh:
 
This is the one time I would recommend PIA for gaming, outstanding service and dirt cheap. Its also like a Apple product, any idiot can use it.
 
time for the next immigrant caravan....

As new laws in different countries develop, it'll be interesting to see what happens...

I AM GLAD Mindark was not able to sell us folks in the US any deep token, lol.
 
Bertha Bot said:
[h=3]Strongbox announcement[/h]
The consequences of the new law will be that users located in Sweden (or with a Swedish IP) will no longer be allowed to purchase Strongboxes or Strongbox keys in the Entropia Universe Webshop from this date. It will still be possible for anyone in Entropia Universe to find boxes within Entropia Universe, but users located in Sweden (or with a Swedish IP) will not be able to open them unless they have Strongbox Keys acquired prior to January 1, 2019. Strongbox Keys acquired prior to January 1, 2019 will continue to function even for users in Sweden, but they will not be able to purchase new Strongbox Keys from this date.
If you do not reside in Sweden or use a Swedish IP Strongboxes and Strongbox Keys will continue to work like previously, this change only affect users in Sweden or with a Swedish IP.

Originally Posted Here
Click to expand...

So, trying to understand this... any keys held can be used, but they are only obtainable via the webshop and this will block Swedish IPs. However, if a user leaves Sweden and logs on, will they be able to use the shop legally to buy keys and use them whenever they like (even if back in Sweden when they do so)?
Also, what about cloud computing located somewhere else such as the Shadow Ghost?
Will anyone actually be breaking laws if they are careful to actually purchase keys in an allowable way?

Not that I like boxes (or rather, keys) in the first place, as I have an issue with the purchase only via deposit situation and not being available in-game. But other than that boxes are in effect pre-gambling, as you have to turn over the universal ammo in what we all know is a gambling environment anyway...

Getting 100% tt value (thus not gambling) is not really right, as you cannot tt universal ammo - it has to be transformed into tt-able stuff at the various 'tables' MA offers. As I described above - it is pre-gambling and forcing you to play/gamble if you want anything back.
 
Good thing I already quit the game then I guess since they are removing the only way I deposit.
I really enjoy the boxes since I get a lot of utility items and I am gonna use the ammo to hunt with anyways so it's a nice bonus to get pills etc.

Gonna be fun for Swedish people to never be able to get skill-pills, Neuro's or any of the other pills (Other than buying them for markup), No amps, no rings.
It's also very interesting that they just haven't applied for the new licence that the law requires casinos etc to apply for.

Here is a link for some information about the new law:
https://www.regeringen.se/pressmedd...rknaden-omregleras---ett-licenssystem-infors/
(PS. It's in Swedish, but you can probably use Google translate to get a general idea)
 
The definition of the customer's residence has nothing to do with the IP. IP is just a mean, and a quick one, for the company to define something, such as origin. A customer's residence/citizenship etc is defined by the law and is expressed by various papers and registers, such as ID.

The problem is that is the company's obligation to be sure that, in this case, customers are not from Sweden, as I understand it. I haven't read the law and I am not inline with the basic principles of Swedish law in what regards sovereignity, but I would expect is similar to others. So it would be important: the customer's actual residence, the customer's actual location when doing x or y, the place of registration of the company and the location of the deal itself (e.g. the servers).

The subsequent question which I have then: is it possible to just license with this lottery authority or is some sort of state monopoly?

Also, maybe MindArk will finally start to consider to get back to the game and be done with strongboxes alltogether. Make rings and buffs and fancy amps craftable and lootable. We do need a viable economy, MindArk, maybe focus more on that instead of focusing on gamblers and then maybe you'll have less emotions with the law.
 
How about taking a backward step..
Make a Soto a loot drop and the need for the boxes evaporates.
After all MA have to ensure minimum value of contents = ped used to purchase keys anyway. So the rings etc are just sotos dressed up in a box to persuade us to depo.
Sotos are more fun, and players don't have the frustration of deciding whether to sell the box or depo for the keys.
Ironically it may actually make people spend more if they know they can have the chance of a soto when hunting/mining...dare I say it crafting ?
 
New LAW said:
Licenshavare ska ha en långtgående skyldighet att skydda spelarna mot överdrivet spelande.
Click to expand...
"Those that have license must have a far-reaching obligation to protect players from excessive gambling."

I really found it interesting this part of the new law.
I see this as those people who lose too much peds will be forcibly put on a break from doing certain activities in game such as the most expensive one in-game. Explosive projectiles ;).
 
Sub-Zero said:
"Those that have license must have a far-reaching obligation to protect players from excessive gambling."

I really found it interesting this part of the new law.
I see this as those people who lose too much peds will be forcibly put on a break from doing certain activities in game such as the most expensive one in-game. Explosive projectiles ;).
Click to expand...

Not applicable. MindArk obviously is not and will not be a license holder with regard to that regulation.

:dunno:

Ferial said:
My guess is that since it´s still up for debate if lootboxes is considered gambling (at least i think so?) this is just a precaution to prevent any potential ramifications in the end.

To make things clear, It´s not illegal for Swedes to buy strongboxes, it could potentially be illegal to sell strongboxes to Swedes, if you don´t have a gambling license :D
Click to expand...

This. :wise:
 
Last edited:
Well, this is SHIT!

I bet us swedish players are the ones depositing the most in the game, we pay the employees at mindark their salary.
Interesting what will happen when they dont get an income anymore.
Like Star said, place the company in another country outside EU region, I guess the programmers are located in india so why not place the whole company there. Or Mexico where Mindark had an Office a couple of years ago :)
Paying for a box-opening service dont give me the returns I want, 100% skillpills and stuff are nice and important to get nowadays.
And start using vpn feels like a step back in time.

So come on Mindark! Find a way around this shit!

Sincerely Deux
 
Thats racism! :wise:
 
Pelleman said:
Well, this is SHIT!

I bet us swedish players are the ones depositing the most in the game, we pay the employees at mindark their salary.
Interesting what will happen when they dont get an income anymore.
Like Star said, place the company in another country outside EU region, I guess the programmers are located in india so why not place the whole company there. Or Mexico where Mindark had an Office a couple of years ago :)
Paying for a box-opening service dont give me the returns I want, 100% skillpills and stuff are nice and important to get nowadays.
And start using vpn feels like a step back in time.

So come on Mindark! Find a way around this shit!

Sincerely Deux
Click to expand...

pechunter said:
Thats racism! :wise:
Click to expand...

Pelleman said:
Yes, styrkekramar till dig :)
Click to expand...

Just stupid to say its MA's fault when new swedish gambling law is the reason. Imo its very good they protect other player base from this with restrictions. It could be possible they say in Sweden whole game is gambling and no one cant play it anymore.

This is the way how countries want to go in future with gambling. They want all gambling is restricted to their country so they can control people playing. (real reason is just they want to take tax money from this market aswell.)

I am very aware of things what happening in Finland with gambling laws since sports betting is my job and prolly Finnish customers will be soon next ones. These things are just something what we cant do anything and im happy that MA tries to get this going propably best what can be done atm.
 
Also I remember very good USA black friday with online poker. (pokerstars opened again like month after black friday)

I really hope MA start to make some backup plans to locate company fast somewhere where gambling is allowed if Sweden decides fuck it up.
 
Me Really Never said:
This kinda proves my statement, doesnt it? just because a minority uses it doesnt mean everyone in that age group knows how to do it. in fact, the vast majority doesnt. so theres that.
Click to expand...

Or they are old fucks like me, that dont care to hide their IP.
 
Make the keys crafted and the boxes looted.

All fine!

Starterpacks, Ammopacks is enough for webshop.
 
GoNi said:
Make the keys crafted and the boxes looted.

All fine!

Starterpacks, Ammopacks is enough for webshop.
Click to expand...


:wise::wise::wise:

But .. it will never happen, MA introduced the lootboxes to bring in "new" money to the game !!
 
As MA stated (Sweden (or with a Swedish IP))
It looks like a VPN will not help since im located in Sweden and my account is registerd as Swedish, but i guess this has to be tested once they changed.

How will the Swedish people be compensated for this?
Rings looted to swedish players from mobs?
Higher loot return from Swedish IP?

Keep the game the same to everyone in every country, favoritism is bad business.
 
Xpl0jd said:
How will the Swedish people be compensated for this?
Click to expand...
Don't they already get faster ping times, allowing for certain events to be won for quite a few years already?
 
mastermesh said:
Don't they already get faster ping times, allowing for certain events to be won for quite a few years already?
Click to expand...

Dutch do, given the servers are in the Netherlands. But AFAIK it's about 35 ms throughout Europe.
 
Xpl0jd said:
Keep the game the same to everyone in every country, favoritism is bad business.
Click to expand...

I guess you mean they should then open game for all countries aswell which isnt possible at the moment?
 
mastermesh said:
Don't they already get faster ping times, allowing for certain events to be won for quite a few years already?
Click to expand...

lol, servers are not in Sweden so no we dont get faster ping times if you call that favoritsm.. :laugh:



Chiee said:
I guess you mean they should then open game for all countries aswell which isnt possible at the moment?
Click to expand...

They are open for all countires, MA does not ban any country as far as i know.
Some countries might ban the game in their firewall but MA does not do it.
 
Xpl0jd said:
lol, servers are not in Sweden so no we dont get faster ping times if you call that favoritsm.. :laugh:





They are open for all countires, MA does not ban any country as far as i know.
Some countries might ban the game in their firewall but MA does not do it.
Click to expand...

where all the chinese players are? just an example.
 
mastermesh said:
Don't they already get faster ping times, allowing for certain events to be won for quite a few years already?
Click to expand...

Lol ! How can that be when servers are located outside Sweden? Isnt it in the Netherlands?
 
Sounds stupid. I mean you pay 1 usd per box, and get 10 ped of loot. How is it gambling if you cant lose? I know other activities that resemble gambling more...
 
Kattfres said:
Sounds stupid. I mean you pay 1 usd per box, and get 10 ped of loot. How is it gambling if you cant lose? I know other activities that resemble gambling more...
Click to expand...

you pay 1 usd to get nearly 1 usd worth of stuff that you have to use first in hope to get out as much as you put in which is... gambling. thing is you cant TT the UA.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top