Leon Y. Xiao on Muck Rack

Leon Y. Xiao

Copenhagen, London, Manchester
As seen in: Nature, The Conversation, Phys.org, GamesIndustry.biz
Covers:  Video games; Loot boxes; Law and regulation; Consumer protection; Gambling
Assistant Professor @CityUHongKong | Loot Boxes; Video Game Law 🎮🎰 | Empirical Legal & Policy Research | Pro Screenshotter 📱📸 | @ForbesUnder30

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Leon Y. Xiao’s Biography

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Hi, I’m Leon, a PhD Fellow at the IT University of Copenhagen, currently visiting The Manchester Metropolitan University.

I research video game law, particularly the regulation of loot boxes, a quasi-gambling monetisation mechanic in video games. I use empirical legal research methods and am passionate about open science. I also dabble in some research on gameplay time and the intersections between cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and gambling.

I have testified before an Australian House Committee. My r…

Leon Y. Xiao’s Journalist Portfolio

Loot Box State of Play 2024: Another trip around the world of regulation

Loot Box State of Play 2024: Another trip around the world of regulation

We are back for another look at how different countries are regulating loot boxes. There is certainly less pr…

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How should the UK video game industry self-regulate loot boxes?

How should the UK video game industry self-regulate loot boxes?

Loot box researcher Leon Y. Xiao examines what has worked - and what hasn't - with previous loot box regulati…

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Loot box State of Play 2023: A global update on regulation

Loot box State of Play 2023: A global update on regulation

Researcher Leon Y. Xiao recaps legislative developments on loot box monetization methods around the world

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Beneath the label: unsatisfactory compliance with loot box presence warning industry self-regulation

Beneath the label: unsatisfactory compliance with loot box presence warning industry self-regulation

Loot boxes in video games are a form of in-game transactions with randomized elements. Concerns have been rai…

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Breaking Ban: Belgium's Ineffective Gambling Law Regulation of Video Game Loot Boxes

Breaking Ban: Belgium's Ineffective Gambling Law Regulation of Video Game Loot Boxes

Loot boxes in video games are gambling-like mechanics that players buy to obtain randomised rewards of varyin…

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Loot box State of Play 2022: Regulatory and policy research developments

Loot box State of Play 2022: Regulatory and policy research developments

Researcher Leon Y. Xiao offers a worldwide recap for a busy year of legal action around loot boxes in games

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Articles

Research finds under-24s illegally targeted by Dutch gambling ads

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By Leon Y. Xiao, Lisa Lock, Robert Egan 
| Phys.org
Screenshots of relevant moments during Meta advert ID# 604371235647553 for Winnitt targeting young women showing the use of 'Get Ready with Me' (GRWM) make-up video aesthetics and language. Credit: 2025 Winnitt The Netherlands prohibits gambling advertising from targeting young people under age 24.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

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

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By Taylor Hardwick, Ben Egliston, Leon Y. Xiao, Marcus Alfred Carter, Tianyi Zhangshao
| The Conversation
In September 2024, Australia introduced a new classification approach for games with gambling-like content. Under this scheme, videogames containing in-game purchases linked to chance-based features such as “loot boxes” or “gacha” must have a minimum classification of M (not recommended for children under 15 years of age). Additionally, videogames which contain simulated gambling, such as social casino games, must be classified R18+ (legally restricted to adults aged 18 or older).
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Mainland China's 2021 restrictions on under-18s' video game time were imposed when older 2019 restrictions already applied: Omitting the historical regulatory context is misleading : Commentary on: Compliance and alternative behaviors of heavy g

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By Leon Y. Xiao, Mark Griffiths
| scienceopen.com
Record: found Abstract: found Article: found Is Open Access Author(s): , Publication date (Electronic): Keywords: , , , , , , There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience. Investigating the impacts of addiction policymaking following implementation is important. Effective policies should be considered for emulation elsewhere, whilst ineffective policies should be repealed.
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

For a photo, yes.

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

Zotero

What's your favorite drink?

Strawberry juice

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