Punch boxes were once sold in retail stores to obtain prizes such as plastic glasses, paratroopers and chewing gum. In the modern world, the puck box has evolved into a blind box when buying doll games such as Labubu. It has a gambling element that makes its purchase by Muslims haram.
Because of this gambling element, the Singapore government through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is drafting specific regulations for the offer of blind boxes in the republic. This is to manage the risk that it encourages gambling. Among the proposals being considered is the requirement to disclose the probability of obtaining certain items on the product box.
Although China started the puck box trend, in this country guidelines have been introduced since 2023 prohibiting its sale to individuals under the age of 8. Sales to individuals aged 8-18 require parental consent first. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, a ceiling price for puck boxes has been introduced.
In the App Store, Apple requires app developers to show the probability of obtaining specific items, to ensure that new players are not deceived by developers into wasting money.
