Torjus Hørte Vigsnes, 15, told NRK Sørlandet that he used to play games daily and spent money on skins, though he now considers it unimportant. A 2020 survey by the Media Authority found that 58% of gamers aged 9-18 have bought something with real money in games, and nearly four in ten did not ask their parents before their last purchase.
The Consumer Council receives about 50 inquiries per year about gaming-related problems. Consumer lawyer Thomas Iversen told NRK Sørlandet that the worst cases involve credit cards with high limits, where 20,000 to 50,000 NOK can be spent in a weekend.
I had a gaming phase before where I played every single day. That was what my life revolved around.
According to Iversen, unauthorized transactions by children without parental consent may make the bank responsible for covering the amount minus a deductible, the size of which depends on whether parents should have better protected themselves.
To educate young people, bailiff Anita Andrå Andersen visited 10th graders at Drottningborg school in Grimstad. She told NRK Sørlandet that converting real money to in-game currency like Robux and V-Bucks makes it easier to spend more because the sense of value is lost. Thomas Harkestad, 16, said he spent much of his confirmation money on a light motorcycle and saved some in a fund with his father's help.
I think it was a more fun experience when I had skins. Now I think it's not important.
I also saved a lot, a bit in a fund as well. Dad has helped me with that.
The worst examples we see are credit cards with very high credit limits where both 20,000 and 50,000 kroner can fly out the window in a weekend.
It's easy to be fooled and therefore parents must try to stay ahead. The technology has improved so that you can set various locks on tablets and phones, so that children don't run wild with the bank card.
The size of the deductible will depend on whether the parents should have protected themselves better against the child being able to make purchases themselves.