They are available for players to buy in popular games like Overwatch (40 million players ), Rocket League (40 million players ), and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Over 25 million players ). Loot boxes are virtual items in video games that contain randomised contents but can be paid for with real-world money. However, in either case these results suggest that there may be good reason to regulate loot boxes in games.

It is unclear from this study whether buying loot boxes acts as a gateway to problem gambling, or whether spending large amounts of money on loot boxes appeals more to problem gamblers. This link was stronger than a link between problem gambling and buying other in-game items with real-world money (η 2 = 0.004), suggesting that the gambling-like features of loot boxes are specifically responsible for the observed relationship between problem gambling and spending on loot boxes. A large-scale survey of gamers (n = 7,422) found evidence for a link (η 2 = 0.054) between the amount that gamers spent on loot boxes and the severity of their problem gambling. There is concern in the research community that similarities between loot boxes and gambling may lead to increases in problem gambling amongst gamers. In recent years, loot boxes have become increasingly common. Loot boxes are items in video games that can be paid for with real-world money and contain randomised contents.

Gambling video games problems