A recent study by researchers from the Canadian University of British Columbia (UBC) has confirmed a link between the controversial loot boxes and gambling. Published about a month ago in Addictive Behaviors, the study found that video games who are drawn to the loot boxes have traits that are very similar to those of problem gamblers. This study, in essence, tips the scales significantly in a matter that has been hotly debated for the past couple of years. These in-game items drew the attention of regulators and authorities across the globe with many believing that they were exposing children and gamers in general to gambling.
The UBC study involved a total of 144 online respondents all of whom represented adult video gamers in North America. In addition to that, the study further involved a total of 113 UBC undergraduates who complete online questions that tracked the time they spent playing video games as well as their monthly expenditure. The participants were also asked questions based on common gambling research as well as on their perception and behaviors in as far as online gambling is concerned.
As it turns out, most of the participants were of the belief that loot boxes were a form of gambling. Even so, the majority of both groups of participants also admitted to still using and spending real money on them. Fortunately, this revelation does not necessarily qualify them as people who are at risk of gambling addiction.
However, according to the findings of the research, there is a correlation between problem gambling and excessive engagement with loot boxes. For instance, in both groups, it was found that about 10 percent of the participants were at moderate risk, and 9 percent were at risk of developing problem gambling. In as far as monthly expenditure on loot boxes is concerned, it was found that the average was $17.5 monthly with just over 10 percent of the participants reporting that they spent over $50.
“Typically, we did have an association where the more one spent monthly, the more likely they were to endorse questions that associated with problematic gambling behavior and/or problematic or risky loot box use,” Lead author Gabriel Brooks, a Ph.D. student at UBC’s Centre for Gambling Research said.
Is That It?
Well, the issue of loot boxes remains rather controversial – the study offers a lot of insight into the matter but it definitely is not significant enough to offer a final verdict on the matter. There is still a lot of disagreement on the issue and this simply implies that there is a need for more research. Since there’s much that is left unclear about the effects of loot boxes, we might only be able to depend on the suggested solution of the UBC study such as the proposal for inclusion of labels and the ability to prohibit accounts to make loot box purchases.
