A single forum post has reignited debate about monetisation in video games, this time focusing on Blizzard Entertainment’s newly introduced interactive “Pets” for Hearthstone. Rather than the usual card packs, players are now faced with the Darkmoon Faire Treasures system, a randomised reward track that has prompted one user to contact their New Zealand MP to question whether it falls foul of local gambling laws.
On 25 June 2025, a Hearthstone fan opened a thread titled “” in Blizzard’s Multiplayer Discussion forum. Describing the feature as “the low of the low for Blizzard” and labelling the loot mechanism a “predatory gambling scam,” the poster revealed they had emailed their MP on 24 June, urging a formal review of the new unlock system.
Regulatory vacuum for loot boxes in New Zealand
Under New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003, loot boxes and similar mechanics have . In December 2017, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) stated: “loot boxes do not meet the legal definition of gambling” because purchasers are not wagering for monetary gain but for purely cosmetic items.
Licensing compliance manager Trish Millward explained that “gamers do not purchase loot boxes seeking to win money or something that can be converted into money.” As a result, the DIA “has no ability to regulate the activity under the Gambling Act 2003”.
That longstanding position may soon face pressure. In April 2025, New Zealand’s Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden announced a draft Online Gambling Bill, set to introduce a regulated framework for online 바카라 gaming by 2026 and imposing stricter age verification measures. Should the legislation proceed, gacha-style mechanics like Darkmoon Faire Treasures could come under closer scrutiny as part of broader consumer-protection efforts.
How interactive pets work
Blizzard’s official announcement on 24 June made clear that Hearthstone’s Pets are strictly cosmetic. The feature centres on King Krush, a miniature devilsaur companion that “will join you and your Hero on the game board during matches,” mimicking emotes with “unique animation and audio cues” and allowing players to pet, feed or play with it using interactive toys.
Pets are unlocked exclusively via Darkmoon Faire Treasures, a ten-tier random-reward system. Each player receives a complimentary first pull, with the remaining nine slots available for purchase using Runestones (Hearthstone’s microtransaction currency). Completing the full prize pathway can cost up to US $158, according to community estimates.
바카라ers voice concerns over random rewards
Many in the Hearthstone community have likened the Pets rollout to gacha and loot-box systems elsewhere in gaming. One forum member warned, “How in the heck are they actually checking to see if someone is 18 or not? And if it does, it’s basically an admission that this is a type of gambling.” Others drew comparisons to League of Legends’ Sanctum feature, conceding that Blizzard’s version may be “way less predatory,” yet noting it still emits “a gambling vibe that’s hard to ignore”.
This latest controversy marks another chapter in Blizzard’s ongoing tussle over randomised monetisation. Hearthstone’s card-pack RNG and other microtransaction offerings have previously drawn legal challenges in multiple regions over whether they constitute gambling. Blizzard continues to defend Darkmoon Faire Treasures, emphasising that no item can be duplicated and that all odds and pricing are transparently disclosed in official communications.
As the line between gaming and gambling revenue models blurs, regulators and players are paying close attention. Whether New Zealand’s pending legislation will extend to cosmetic-based reward tracks remains to be seen, but for now Hearthstone enthusiasts are divided: some are preparing formal complaints, while others grudgingly accept that interactive Pets might be the next frontier in in-game monetisation.
