Update 06/20/18: Valve has already made a move to comply with the Netherlands' loot box regulations by disabling item trading and Steam Marketplace transfers for Dota 2 and CS:GO in the country, reports Eurogamer

Dutch gamers received a notification explaining that while Valve still doesn't "understand or agree with" the country's ruling, its only option for the moment is to comply.

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The Netherlands will being enforcing its ban on loot boxes as of today, by handing out fines and eventually moving to prosecution.In a statement released yesterday, the Gaming Authority announced that the companies in breach of the ruling had until today, June 20, to make the necessary changes to their games so as not to be in breach of the country's gambling law, and that it will now begin "the phase of enforcement".The country's decision to ban loot boxes was made earlier this year , when the Dutch Gaming Authority (or Kansspelautoriteit) ruled that some loot boxes could be classified as gambling, namely those found in FIFA 18, Dota 2, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Rocket League.Video game publishers were told to make the necessary changes in their games before the deadline.The Gaming Authority has said that if "sufficient adjustments" haven't been made, those in breach of the law will face administrative fines of up €830,000 (approximately $959,000 USD / £729,600 / $1,300,000 AUD), or a portion of worldwide turnover.If the fines don't prove to be effective, the Gaming Authority can "appeal to the Public Prosecution Service to prosecute criminal proceedings."The decision is part of a wider discussion on loot boxes and gambling in games. While Belgium has sided with the Netherlands on the issue , the UK Gambling Commission has ruled that loot boxes don't constitute gambling under British law , and is joined by the Gambling Compliance office of New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs in this decision. In the United States, the ESRB determined loot boxes were not gambling under its own criteria.Meanwhile, EA has insisted that loot boxes in FIFA aren't a form of gambling , with CEO Andrew Wilson saying that "EA is "working with all the industry associations globally and with regulators in various jurisdictions and territories, [and] have established that programs like FIFA Ultimate Team are not gambling."

Shabana is a freelance writer who enjoys JRPGs, wine, and not finishing games. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram