This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Gambling elements in video games (‘Loot Boxes’)'.

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Document 51
From:
Trish Millward
To:
UM PRC RS Licensing Compliance
Cc:
Gareth Bostock; Cath Anyan; Michelle White; Lance Daly
Subject:
Loot boxes and media coverage
Date:
Monday, 18 December 2017 4:48:59 PM
Attachments:
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Hi All
This is a really good reminder that we need to be very careful with every bit of advice we put out.  This was an email response sent to
an enquiry to the licensing compliance inbox that came from a researcher.  The advice got published on Gamasutra
 https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/311463/New Zealand says lootboxes do not meet the legal definition for gambling.php
 and went viral really quickly being picked up by international gaming sites all around the world.  The good thing is Poni had been
liaising with operational policy about the wording of the response (there were multiple Ministerial enquiries at the same time).  So the
lesson here for us all – know your audience, if there is any chance it is a journalist or your advice will be published get the comms team
involved before responding.    
If you google Trish Millward loot see what comes up – most interesting version of advice contains the following:
Loot bins are no longer a produce of gambling, says a Fresh Zealand government regulator. The most up-to-date government
observation on the educate aligns with the contentions of the United States’ Entertainment Application Affiliation and publishers of
video games that employ them.
Trish Millward, of the Playing Compliance workplace for Fresh Zealand’s Division of Inner Affairs, told Gamasutra on Monday that loot
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bins “manufacture no longer meet the definition of gambling.”
Trish Millward | Fresh Zealand Government Regulator | Playing Compliance Workplace   
The Department of Inner Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua 
Direct Dial: +64 4 494 0551| Mobile: +64 27 538 9946
Our Vision Ta Matou Matakite
INFORMATION 
We regulate for a safetransparent and trusted gambling sector that benefits communities
E whakarite ture ana matau mo tetahi rangai petipeti haumarumaramatika ho i e whai hua ana nga hapori.
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Document 52
From:
Trish Millward
To:
Joshua Chand
Subject:
RE: Trish your famous RE: loot boxes
Date:
Tuesday, 19 December 2017 2:08:17 PM
I know I feel so important!
From: Joshua Chand 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 8:11 AM
To: Trish Millward
Cc: Gareth Bostock; Heather McShane
Subject: Trish your famous RE: loot boxes
https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/16/16785474/loot-boxes-gambling-law-government-star-
wars-battlefront-2
This site has a lot of daily traffic.
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Document 54
From:
Gareth Bostock
To:
Sue Ingram; Trish Millward; Cath Anyan; Michelle White
Cc:
Mike Osmond; Heather McShane; Maarten Quivooy
Subject:
RE: Are lootboxes the slot machines of video gaming? | The Spinoff
Date:
Wednesday, 20 December 2017 9:11:45 AM
Balanced exploration of the issues.  Unusual.  It's just missing a quote from Trish.
Gareth
Gareth Bostock | Director
Gambling Compliance Group
Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua 
Direct Dial: +64 4 495 7298 | Mobile: +64 27 441 3601
147 Lambton Quay | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz  
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-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Ingram
Sent: Wednesday, 20 December 2017 8:17 AM
To: Gareth Bostock; Trish Millward; Cath Anyan; Michelle White
Cc: Mike Osmond; Heather McShane; Maarten Quivooy
Subject: Are lootboxes the slot machines of video gaming? | The Spinoff
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This is an interesting read and does the topic justice. (The Spinoff is by far the most in-depth, balanced
journalism around at the moment- in my humble opinion!).
https://thespinoff.co.nz/games/19-12-2017/lootboxes-slot-machines-video-gaming/
S
Sent from my iPad
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Document 55
From:
Trish Millward
To:
Sue Ingram
Subject:
Re: Are lootboxes the slot machines of video gaming? | The Spinoff
Date:
Wednesday, 20 December 2017 8:23:38 AM
Just read it on the bus. Agree and nice invitation for developers to self regulate.
Sent from my iPhone
On 20/12/2017, at 8:17 AM, Sue Ingram <[email address]> wrote:
This is an interesting read and does the topic justice. (The Spinoff is by far the
most in-depth, balanced journalism around at the moment- in my humble
opinion!).
https://thespinoff.co.nz/games/19-12-2017/lootboxes-slot-machines-video-
gaming/
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S
Sent from my iPad
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Document 56
From:
Heather McShane
To:
Mark Thornton; Lloyd Bezett
Subject:
FW: Are lootboxes the slot machines of video gaming? | The Spinoff
Date:
Thursday, 21 December 2017 8:59:39 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Ingram
Sent: Wednesday, 20 December 2017 8:17 AM
To: Gareth Bostock; Trish Millward; Cath Anyan; Michelle White
Cc: Mike Osmond; Heather McShane; Maarten Quivooy
Subject: Are lootboxes the slot machines of video gaming? | The Spinoff
This is an interesting read and does the topic justice. (The Spinoff is by far the most in-depth, balanced
journalism around at the moment- in my humble opinion!).
https://thespinoff.co.nz/games/19-12-2017/lootboxes-slot-machines-video-gaming/
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Sent from my iPad
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