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The Conversation
The Conversation
César Albarrán-Torres, Associate professor, Swinburne University of Technology

Gambling for children? Why Australia should consider regulating blind box toys like Labubu

If you walk through any major shopping mall in Australia, chances are you’ll encounter products and experiences that are uncomfortably similar to gambling – yet they are available to anyone, including children.

Our soon-to-be-published research has found claw machines, blind boxes and toy capsule machines have become pervasive in the spaces families frequent – from the shops, to the movies, to the pub.

Close-up view of a claw machine with several claws, filled with a wide variety of colourful toys.
A claw machine in a major shopping precinct in Melbourne. Author provided
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