Players are spending up to £1,000 a year on video game 'loot boxes' as MPs have called for them to be banned for children.

A parliamentary report published today is urging the Government to close a loop hole in gambling legislation that allows the features, which dispense randomised virtual rewards, to be sold to under-18s.

MPs also called for any games that contained loot boxes to be clearly labeled “gambling” and rated age 18. The call follows an investigation into ‘immersive and addictive’ technologies, such as video games and social media, by the culture select committee.

The report attacked some of the tech companies that gave evidence for their “lack of honesty and transparency” over their business practices.

Loot boxes feature in popular games such as FIFA Ultimate Team, where gamers buy packs of football players in the hope of getting the biggest stars for their online team. During the hearings, Electronic Arts, which makes FIFA, denied the feature constituted gambling, describing it instead as a “surprise mechanic”.

However, the committee heard from a gamer who said they spent “almost £800 to £1000 a year annually on FIFA” loot boxes trying to improve their team.