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Leon Xiao

@leonxiao.com

1.6K followers 1.1K following 690 posts

Assistant Professor @ CityUHK | Loot Boxes; Video Game Law 🎮🎰 | Empirical Legal & Policy Research | Pro Screenshotter 📱📸 | leonxiao.com

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · Mar 27

I’m joining City University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor. By establishing the Creative Media Policy Observatory, we will ‘scale up’ and conduct more empirical research on video game law and regulation, and also explore the policy issues relating to adjacent creative media industries. 🔬⚖️🎮👾

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 5h

FDG 2026

Dates: 10–14 August 2026

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark 🇩🇰

Theme: Research through Games; Research for Games

Deadline: 5 December 2025 ❗

fdg2026.org/call-for-pap...

As always, for upcoming conference deadlines check: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Call for Papers: Foundations of Digital Games 2026 (FDG 2026) – Foundation of Digital Games 2026

fdg2026.org

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 5h

As I argued in the @scmpnews.bsky.social earlier this year: www.scmp.com/opinion/lett....

Letters | Hong Kong can regulate video game loot boxes by enforcing its laws

Readers discuss how to tackle gambling-like products, support for working mothers, Hong Kong’s tourism revival, and promoting recycling.

www.scmp.com

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 5h

Blind boxes discussed in Hong Kong legislature. Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, confirms that the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362) prohibits, inter alia, misleading omissions.

www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...

This affirms the need to disclose probabilities (%).

LCQ7: Sales model of "blind boxes"

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (October...

www.info.gov.hk

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 1d

DiGRA 2026

Dates: 14–18 June 2026

Location: Maynooth, Ireland 🇮🇪

Theme: Intersectional Pleasures

Deadline: 1 December 2025 ❗

www.digraconference2026.com

DiGRA 2026 Conference | Maynooth University, Ireland

Join the DiGRA 2026 conference at Maynooth University, 14–18 June 2026. Theme “Intersectional Pleasures.” A global hybrid event for game research, culture, design, and industry.

www.digraconference2026.com

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 2d

We shall see whether and how the ABC responds. We can also appeal to the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority).

Trivia: the ACMA also deals with online gambling and has enforced against skin gambling websites.

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 2d

This would then also be a breach of Principle 1: independence, integrity and responsibility.

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 2d

The ABC recognises this as problematic: “When the ABC carries unattributed information it is, in effect, vouching for the information to the audience. The ABC is asking its audience to take the information on trust and in that way the ABC is investing some of its own credibility in the material.”

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 2d

In this specific case, the breach is so grave that a misimpression was arguably given that the research was conducted by ABC when it was not.

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 2d

As the ABC itself has said: “When media provide information without attribution, audience members are denied an opportunity to consider the source for themselves and to decide how much weight to give to the information in light of who the source is.”

Source: www.abc.net.au/edpols/attri...

Attribution / Anonymity of Sources - ABC Editorial Policies

This Guidance Note outlines what needs to be considered in attributing information or negotiating the anonymity of a source.

www.abc.net.au

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 2d

I have raised a formal complaint alleging breach of ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Editorial Standard 5.4: “Aim to attribute information to its source.”

This would be a breach of the fair and honest dealing principle of the ABC Code of Practice.

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 3d

We ought to duly acknowledge that this study was led by the University of Sydney, funded by the Australian Research Council, to ensure policy-relevant video game research that may improve player protection would also be supported in the future. Otherwise, we might not have such insights again.

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 3d

However, I'm quite concerned by the lack of attribution to the original academic research by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....; papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....), which was described merely in passing as "new research."

Investigating mobile games' compliance with Australia's 2024 mandatory minimum age classifications scheme for gambling-like mechanics

In September 2024, Australia introduced mandatory minimum age classifications for video games containing gambling-like mechanics, including loot boxes and simul

papers.ssrn.com

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 3d

Our research on the non-enforcement of the loot box minimum age rating rule led by the Sydney team (@marcuscarter.com; @tianyizhangshao.bsky.social; @darthtayrah.bsky.social; @benegliston.bsky.social) featured in Australian national radio w/ @raejohnston.bsky.social: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr....

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 10d

Great to collab with colleagues at Sydney. Global video game/loot box policy evaluation is an international collaborative effort. Would be great to work with German 🇩🇪, Spanish 🇪🇸, and Brazilian 🇧🇷 colleagues to check (forthcoming) national rules. Please do get in touch with us if interested! 👋🏻

Taylor Hardwick @darthtayrah.bsky.social · 10d

New article in @theconversation.com today reflecting on Australia’s 2024 loot box regulations and how, 1 year later, there remains widespread non-compliance - and generally really confusing age ratings for mobile games on the App Stores!

theconversation.com/loot-boxes-a...

Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features

Games with ‘loot boxes’ should be classified for over-15s – but a new study shows many of the most popular mobile games completely ignore the rules.

theconversation.com

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 13d

As you predicted, they did now magically discover this week-old news. 😉

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

Fair points! 😢

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

This “news” is a week old. I just got around to posting it. 😅 Hopefully, they pick it up soon.

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

In theory, yes. But we will have to see about implementation and enforcement.

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

We miss you!

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

Belgium failed to ban loot boxes: doi.org/10.1525/coll.... That was easier to implement as it applied to everyone, and so did not require age verification.

Companies are failing to conduct effective age assurance in the UK: doi.org/10.1098/rsos....

Will Brazil succeed? It's a MUCH bigger market.

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

Brazilian President signed the under-18 loot box ban into law (Lei 15.211/25; effective March 2026). 🇧🇷 www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_a...

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

UK Government publishes a rapid evidence review on #SkinsGambling done by Harris, Griffiths, and Gibson. 🇬🇧

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Unclear why this was commissioned, and what it will be used for.

A rapid evidence review of skins gambling

A rapid evidence review collating evidence regarding the emerging phenomenon of skins gambling.

www.gov.uk

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

Written parliamentary question in Singapore asks for probability disclosures and parental controls to be implemented in relation to #LootBoxes following international precedents. Government says the options will be explored. 🇸🇬

www.mha.gov.sg/mediaroom/pa...

Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 14d

Wrote my first book review on a video game law history book. H-Sci-Med-Tech got quite a few more interesting #GameStudies books up for review!

Dr. Penelope K Hardy @pkhardy.bsky.social · 15d

New on H-Sci-Med-Tech:

Check out @leonxiao.com (City University of Hong Kong)‬’s review of Julien Mailland’s book _The Game That Never Ends: How Lawyers Shape the Videogame Industry_ pub 2024 @mitpress.bsky.social
‬
#HSTM

Review available @hnetreviews.bsky.social
www.h-net.org/reviews/show...

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Leon Xiao @leonxiao.com · 23d

And this is an opportunity to promote the call for papers open until 14 November 2025: tinyurl.com/gachaconcfp

Submission: tinyurl.com/gachaconsubmit

Free registration: tinyurl.com/gachaconregi...