Labubus, “dumpling squishies” and Lego minifigures are examples of small collectable toys sold in “blind boxes”.

Blind boxes are essentially mystery boxes. When you purchase a blind box, you don’t know which specific version of the collectable is inside until you open it. You might purchase a blind box that has a really rare, special figure inside it. Or you might end up with a common one you already have five of.

It’s a game of chance.

The phenomenon is not new. I remember standing in the supermarket checkout line as a kid and asking my mum to buy me a Kinder Surprise, eager to eat some chocolate and see what toy I got inside. Pokemon cards work in a similar way. You pay for a sealed pack and only find out which cards you got (and how rare they are) after you open it. Or, for another classic example, think of a lucky dip.

If you are a parent of kids who love blind boxes, you might be worried about how the game of luck echoes gambling. So are blind boxes gambling? And how can parents best approach them with their children?

Read more: Gambling for children? Why Australia should consider regulating blind box toys like Labubu

Blind boxes aren’t gambling under most legal definitions.

According to Australian law, an activity generally needs three key........

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