,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #afbi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #bc 7legislative  
day1 ,may #bb71 #bjai,mr4 ,hawley 7=    
himself1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1 & ,mr4 ,m>key7 
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to regulate c]ta9 pay-to-w9   
microtransactions & sales ( loot boxes 9
 int]active digital ent]ta9m5t products1
 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,regulation (   
pay-to-w9 microtransactions & sales (   
loot boxes 9 video games  7a7           
,prohibition ( pay-to-,w9               
microtransactions & sales ( loot boxes 9
 m9or-,ori5t$ games  7#a7 ,game publi%]s
 ,x is unlawful = a game publi%] to     
publi%-- 7,a7 a m9or-ori5t$ game t      
includes pay-to-w9 microtransactions or 
loot boxes2 or  7,b7 an update to an    
exi/+ m9or-ori5t$ game t w\ld enable    
pay-to-w9 microtransactions or loot     
boxes 9 su* game4  7#b7 ,digital game   
di/ributors ,x is unlawful = a digital  

game di/ributor to di/ribute-- 7,a7 a   
m9or-ori5t$ game t includes pay-to-w9   
microtransactions or loot boxes2 or     
7,b7 an update to an exi/+ m9or-ori5t$  
game t w\ld enable pay-to-w9            
microtransactions or loot boxes 9 su*   
game4  7b7 ,prohibition on publication  
or di/ribution ( video games conta9+    
pay-to-,w9 microtransactions or pur*as+ 
loot boxes :]e ! publi%] or di/ributor  
has con/ructive k t any us]s are "u age 
#ah  7#a7 ,game publi%]s ,x is unlawful 
= a game publi%] to publi% an int]active
 digital ent]ta9m5t product t is n a    
m9or-ori5t$ game 7or an update to su* a 
product7 if-- 7,a7 su* product or update
 conta9s pay-to-w9 microtransactions or 
loot boxes2 &  7,b7 ! publi%] has       
con/ructive k t any ( its us]s are "u ! 
age ( #ah4  7#b7 ,digital game          
di/ributors ,x is unlawful = a digital  
game di/ributor to di/ribute an         
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t product t 
is n a m9or-ori5t$ game 7or an update to
 su* a product7 if-- 7,a7 su* product or

 update conta9s pay-to-w9               
microtransactions or loot boxes2 &  7,b7
 ! di/ributor has con/ructive k t any ( 
its us]s are "u ! age ( #ah4  #b4       
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7           
,commission ,! t]m ,commission means !  
,f$]al ,trade ,commission4  7#b7        
,int]active digital ent]ta9m5t product  
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m int]active digital 
ent]ta9m5t product means a program su* z
 a video game t is access$ by a connect$
 device & provides an int]active        
ent]ta9m5t exp]i5ce = ! us]4  7,b7      
,exclusion ,su* t]m %all n include a    
program if-- 7i7 a us]'s int]action ) ! 
program is limit$ to select+ options f a
 m5u ( *oices2 &  7ii7 ! program w\ld n 
be consid]$ a game by a reasonable us]4 
7#c7 ,digital game di/ributor ,! t]m    
digital game di/ributor means a p]son t1
 = comm]cial purposes1 9 int]/ate or    
=eign comm]ce1 di/ributes an int]active 
digital ent]ta9m5t product ov] an onl9e 
plat=m to ov] #a1jjj us]s annually4     
7#d7 ,game publi%] ,! t]m game publi%]  

means a p]son t1 = comm]cial purposes1 9
 int]/ate or =eign comm]ce1 develops or 
f9ances ! developm5t ( an int]active    
digital ent]ta9m5t product t is         
di/ribut$ to ov] #a1jjj us]s annually4  
7#e7 ,m9or-ori5t$ game ,! t]m           
m9or-ori5t$ video game means an         
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t product = 
:i* ! t>get audi5ce is individuals "u ! 
age ( #ah1 z may be demon/rat$ by-- 7,a7
 ! subject matt] ( ! product2  7,b7 !   
visual cont5t ( ! product2  7,c7 ! music
 or audio cont5t ( ! product2  7,d7 !   
use ( animat$ *>act]s or activities t   
appeal to individuals "u ! age ( #ah2   
7,e7 ! age ( ! *>act]s or models 9 !    
product2  7,f7 ! pres5ce 9 ! product (--
 7i7 celebrities :o are "u ! age ( #ah2 
or  7ii7 celebrities :o appeal to       
individuals "u ! age ( #ah2  7,g7 !     
language us$ 9 ! product2  7,h7 ! cont5t
 ( mat]ials us$ to adv]tise ! product & 
! plat=ms on :i* su* mat]ials appe>2    
7,i7 ! cont5t ( any adv]tis+ mat]ials t 
appe> 9 ! product2  7,j7 o!r reliable   

empirical evid5ce relat+ to-- 7i7 !     
composition ( ! audi5ce ( ! product2 or 
7ii7 ! audi5ce ( ! product1 z int5d$ by 
! publi%] or di/ributor ( ! product2 or 
7,k7 o!r evid5ce demon/rat+ t ! product 
is t>get$ at individuals "u ! age ( #ah4
  7#f7 ,add-on transaction  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! t]m add-on transaction means1 )
 respect to an int]active digital       
ent]ta9m5t product1 a paym5t to ! game  
publi%] ( an int]active digital         
ent]ta9m5t product1 an affiliate ( !    
publi%]1 or any o!r p]son :o accepts su*
 paym5t = ! b5efit ( ! publi%]1 ( ei!r  
money or an 9-game proxy = money1 su* z 
a virtual curr5cy1 t c be pur*as$ )     
money1 t-- 7i7 unlocks a feature ( !    
product2 or  7ii7 adds to or enhances ! 
ent]ta9m5t value ( ! product4  7,b7     
,exclusion ,su* a t]m %all n include a  
paym5t 7includ+ a paym5t ( a regul>     
subscription fee7 :i* is made only to   
all[ a us] to access ! cont5t ( an      
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t product1  
provid$ t us]s d n h ! option to pay    

diff]5t am\nts to access ! same cont5t 9
 ord] to unlock a feature ( ! product or
 to enhance ! ent]ta9m5t value ( !      
product4  7#g7 ,pay-to-w9               
microtransaction  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m  
pay-to-w9 microtransaction means an     
add-on transaction to a int]active      
digital ent]ta9m5t product t-- 7i7 )    
respect to an int]active digital        
ent]ta9m5t product t1 f ! p]spective ( a
 reasonable us] ( ! product1 is a game  
(f]+ a scor+ sy/em1 a set ( goals to    
a*ieve1 a set ( rew>ds1 or a s5se (     
int]active progression ?r\gh ! product's
 cont5t includ+ b n limit$ to n>rative  
progression-- 7,i7 eases a us]'s        
progression ?r\gh cont5t o!rwise        
available )9 ! game )\t ! pur*ase ( su* 
transaction2  7,,ii7 assi/s a us] 9     
accompli%+ an a*ievem5t )9 ! game t c   
o!rwise be accompli%$ )\t ! pur*ase (   
su* transaction2  7,,iii7 assi/s a us] 9
 receiv+ an aw>d associat$ ) ! game t is
 o!rwise available 9 association ) !    
game )\t ! pur*ase ( su* transaction2 or

  7,,iv7 p]mits a us] to cont9ue to     
access cont5t ( ! game t _h previ\sly   
be5 accessible to ! us] b has be5 made  
inaccessible aft] ! expiration ( a tim] 
or a numb] ( gameplay attempts2 or  7ii7
 ) respect to an int]active digital     
ent]ta9m5t product t1 f ! p]spective ( a
 reasonable us] ( ! product1 is a game  
featur+ competition ) o!r us]s1 provides
 a us] ) a competitive advantage )      
respect to ! game's competitive aspects 
ov] us]s :o d n make su* a transaction4 
7,b7 ,exclusions  7i7 ,difficulty modes 
,su* t]m %all n include an add-on       
transaction to an int]active digital    
ent]ta9m5t product t provides ! us] )   
access to a new mode ( play t makes     
progression ?r\gh ! cont5t ( ! product m
 difficult ?an x w\ld be )\t !          
transaction 7z p]ceiv$ by a reasonable  
us]74  7ii7 ,cosmetic alt]ations ,su*   
t]m %all n include an add-on transaction
 to an int]active digital ent]ta9m5t    
product ^: only effect is to alt] a     
us]'s visual repres5tation )9 ! game    

provid$ t x does n1 f ! p]spective ( a  
reasonable us]1 provide ! us] ) a       
competitive advantage ov] o!r us]s :o d 
n make su* transaction4  7iii7          
,additional game cont5t ,su* t]m %all n 
include an add-on transaction to an     
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t product t 
adds new cont5t to ! product provid$ t !
 add-on transaction c be pur*as$ only   
once by a us] & ! p]ceiv$ value (f]$ by 
su* transaction1 f ! p]spective ( a     
reasonable us]1 is n t x-- 7,i7 eases a 
us]'s progression ?r\gh cont5t o!rwise  
available )9 ! product )\t ! pur*ase (  
su* transaction2  7,,ii7 assi/s a us] 9 
accompli%+ an a*ievem5t )9 ! product t c
 o!rwise be accompli%$ )\t ! pur*ase (  
su* transaction2  7,,iii7 assi/s a us] 9
 receiv+ an aw>d associat$ ) ! product t
 is o!rwise available 9 association ) ! 
product )\t ! pur*ase ( su* transaction2
  7,,iv7 p]mits a us] to cont9ue to     
access cont5t ( ! product t _h previ\sly
 be5 accessible to ! us] b is made      
inaccessible aft] ! expiration ( a tim] 

or a numb] ( gameplay attempts2 or  7,v7
 provides a competitive advantage ov]   
o!r us]s ) respect to a product's       
competitive aspects4  7#h7 ,loot box ,! 
t]m loot box means an add-on transaction
 to an int]active digital ent]ta9m5t    
product t-- 7,a7 9 a r&omiz$ or p>tially
 r&omiz$ fa%ion-- 7i7 unlocks a feature 
( ! product2 or  7ii7 adds to or        
enhances ! ent]ta9m5t value ( ! product2
 or  7,b7 all[s ! us] to make #a or m   
additional add-on transactions-- 7i7 t !
 us] c\ld n h made )\t mak+ ! fir/      
add-on transaction2 &  7ii7 ! cont5t (  
:i* is unkn[n to ! us] until aft] ! us] 
has made ! fir/ add-on transaction4  #c4
 ,en=cem5t & applicability  7a7         
,en=cem5t by ! ,commission  7#a7 ,9     
g5]al ,except z o!rwise provid$1 ?is    
,act %all be en=c$ by ! ,commission "u !
 ,f$]al ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae    
,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq474  7#b7 ,unfair or
 deceptive acts or practices ,a         
violation ( ?is ,act %all be treat$ z a 
violation ( a rule def9+ an unfair or   

deceptive act or practice prescrib$ "u  
section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 ( ! ,f$]al     
,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4  
#eg;a7a77#a77;,b774  7#c7 ,actions by ! 
,commission  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z    
provid$ 9 subsection 7c77#a71 !         
,commission %all prev5t any p]son f     
violat+ ?is ,act 9 ! same mann]1 by !   
same means1 & ) ! same jurisdiction1    
p[]s1 & duties z ?\gh all applicable    
t]ms & provisions ( ! ,f$]al ,trade     
,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et  
seq47 7 incorporat$ into & made a "p (  
?is ,act1 & any p]son :o violates ?is   
,act %all be subject to ! p5alties &    
entitl$ to ! privileges & immunities    
provid$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission   
,act4  7,b7 ,violations  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,9
 an action br\ght by ! ,commission to   
en=ce ?is ,act1 ea* pay-to-w9           
microtransaction or loot box sold to a  
us] :o is "u ! age ( #ah ?r\gh an       
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t product t 
does n meet a requirem5t ( ?is ,act %all
 be treat$ z a sep>ate violation4  7ii7 

,civil p5alty ,not)/&+ section #e7m7 ( !
 ,f$]al ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae    
,u4,s4,c4 #de7m771 a civil p5alty       
recov]$ = a violation ( ?is ,act may be 
9 excess ( ! am\nts provid$ = 9 t       
section z ! c\rt f9ds appropriate to    
det] violations ( ?is ,act4  7iii7 ,fir/
 violations ,9 an action br\ght by !    
,commission to en=ce ?is ,act1 !        
,commission may seek a civil p5alty =   
any violation ( ?is ,act1 includ+ any   
violation t is ! fir/ violation ( ?is   
,act t a p]son aga9/ :om ! action is    
br\ght has committ$4  7b7 ,en=cem5t by  
,/ate attorneys g5]al  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    
7,a7 ,civil actions ,9 any case 9 :i* ! 
attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate has reason to  
believe t an int]e/ ( ! resid5ts ( t    
,/ate has be5 or is ?reat5$ or adv]sely 
affect$ by ! engagem5t ( any p]son 9 a  
practice t violates ?is ,act1 ! ,/ate1 z
 p>5s patriae1 may br+ a civil action on
 behalf ( ! resid5ts ( ! ,/ate 9 an     
appropriate ,/ate c\rt to-- 7i7 enjo9 t 
practice2  7ii7 en=ce compliance ) ?is  

,act2  7iii7 obta9 damages1 re/itution1 
or o!r comp5sation on behalf ( resid5ts 
( ! ,/ate2 or  7iv7 obta9 su* o!r relief
 z ! c\rt may consid] to be appropriate4
  7,b7 ,notice  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,be=e fil+ 
an action "u subp>agraph 7,a71 !        
attorney g5]al ( ! ,/ate involv$ %all   
provide to ! ,commission-- 7,i7 writt5  
notice ( t action2 &  7,,ii7 a copy ( ! 
compla9t = t action4  7ii7 ,exemption   
7,i7 ,9 g5]al ,clause 7i7 %all n apply )
 respect to ! fil+ ( an action by an    
attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate "u ?is p>agraph
 if ! attorney g5]al ( ! ,/ate det]m9es 
t x is n feasible to provide ! notice   
describ$ 9 t clause be=e ! fil+ ( !     
action4  7,,ii7 ,notification ,9 an     
action describ$ 9 subclause 7,i71 !     
attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate %all provide   
notice & a copy ( ! compla9t to !       
,commission at ! same "t z ! attorney   
g5]al files ! action4  7#b7 ,int]v5tion 
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,on receiv+ notice "u     
p>agraph 7#a77;,b71 ! ,commission %all h
 ! "r to int]v5e 9 ! action t is !      

subject ( ! notice4  7,b7 ,effect (     
int]v5tion ,if ! ,commission int]v5es 9 
an action "u p>agraph 7#a71 x %all h !  
"r-- 7i7 to be he>d ) respect to any    
matt] t arises 9 t action2 &  7ii7 to   
file a petition = appeal4  7#c7         
,con/ruction ,= purposes ( br++ any     
civil action "u p>agraph 7#a71 no?+ 9   
?is ,act %all be con/ru$ to prev5t an   
attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate f ex]cis+ !    
p[]s conf]r$ on ! attorney g5]al by !   
laws ( t ,/ate to-- 7,a7 conduct        
inve/igations2  7,b7 adm9i/] oa?s or    
affirmations2 or  7,c7 compel !         
att5dance ( witnesses or ! production ( 
docum5t>y & o!r evid5ce4  7#d7 ,actions 
by ! ,commission ,9 any case 9 :i* an   
action is in/itut$ by or on behalf ( !  
,commission = violation ( ?is ,act1 no  
,/ate may1 dur+ ! p5d5cy ( t action1    
in/itute an action "u p>agraph 7#a7     
aga9/ any def5dant nam$ 9 ! compla9t 9 !
 action in/itut$ by or on behalf ( !    
,commission = t violation4  7#e7 ,v5ue2 
s]vice ( process  7,a7 ,v5ue ,any action

 br\ght "u p>agraph 7#a7 may be br\ght 9
 any ,/ate c\rt ( compet5t jurisdiction4
  7,b7 ,s]vice ( process ,9 an action   
br\ght "u p>agraph 7#a71 process may be 
s]v$ :]ev] ! def5dant-- 7i7 is an       
inhabitant2 or  7ii7 may be f\nd4  #d4  
,/udy ( compliance ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s  
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !    
,commission %all submit to ea* committee
 ( ,congress ) jurisdiction ov] !       
,commission a report on-- 7#a7 ! actions
 tak5 by game publi%]s & digital game   
di/ributors to comply ) ?is ,act2 &     
7#b7 o!r ,f$]al or ,/ate laws relat+ to 
pay-to-w9 microtransactions & loot      
boxes4  #e4 ,/udy ( ! effect ( pay-to-w9
 microtransactions & loot boxes  7a7 ,9 
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! date ( 
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,commission %all 
submit to ea* committee ( ,congress )   
jurisdiction ov] ! ,commission a report 
on ! use ( add-on cont5t1 includ+       
pay-to-w9 microtransactions1 loot boxes1
 & o!r k9ds ( add-on transactions 9 !   
design ( int]active digital ent]ta9m5t  

products = audi5ces ( all ages4  7b7    
,cont5t ( report ,! report requir$ "u   
subsection 7a7 %all-- 7#a7 analyze ! use
 ( pay-to-w9 microtransaction & loot box
 design practices 9 specific int]active 
digital ent]ta9m5t products2  7#b7      
analyze ! psy*ological effects (        
pay-to-w9 microtransactions & loot boxes
 on us]s2  7#c7 /udy game developm5t    
practices relat+ to pay-to-w9           
microtransactions & loot boxes1 includ+ 
,a_/,b te/+ ( v>i\s pay-to-w9           
microtransaction or loot box designs2   
7#d7 analyze ! effects ( pay-to-w9      
microtransactions & loot boxes on       
inve/m5t & production 9 ! digital       
ent]ta9m5t indu/ry2  7#e7 docum5t       
diff]5t types ( pay-to-w9               
microtransactions & loot boxes f\nd 9   
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t products2 
&  7#f7 analyze :e!r o!r =ms ( add-on   
transactions to int]active digital      
ent]ta9m5t products1 su* z ^? alt]+ a   
us]'s visual repres5tation )9 a product1
 c induce compulsive pur*as+ behavior by

 m9ors4  7c7 ,use ( psy*ological rese>* 
,! ,commission may conduct or commission
 psy*ological rese>* on us]s (          
int]active digital ent]ta9m5t products  
to in=m ! report requir$ "u subsection  
7a74