Loot boxes in games could lead to problem gambling, according to a study by the Australian Environment and Communications Reference Committee. Over 7,400 game enthusiasts were surveyed for the study, the results of which were presented during a public hearing in Canberra yesterday, as part of the Australian senate inquiry into micro-transactions and chance-based items.
Participants who suffered a serious gambling problem were more likely to spend money on loot boxes, the study found. "These results support the position of academics who claim that loot boxes are psychologically akin to gambling," reads the submission.
"Spending large amounts of money on loot boxes was associated with problematic levels of spending on other forms of gambling. This is what one would expect if loot boxes psychologically constituted a form of gambling. It is not what one would expect if loot boxes were, instead, psychologically comparable to baseball cards."
The report suggests that loot boxes could act as a gateway to problem gambling, noting that loot boxes share "important characteristics" with problem gambling. "They may therefore condition gamers to require the excitement associated with gambling , leading to problem gambling." The opposite could be true, too, so says the study: problem gamblers might find themselves attracted to loot boxes.
Among the ECRC's recommendations is that games with loot boxes be restricted to players of legal gambling age (18-years-old, in Australia). Games would also be required to carry warnings about the presence of loot boxes, as well as parental advisories.
Druggedhippo on September 19th, 2018 at 05:21 UTC »
The actual transcript is an interesting read, although it's still prelim, with a more detailed report on the 17th of October apparently.
Lootboxes may be gateway to gambling
On the difference between Kinder Surpise and Computer Loot boxes:
Distinction between real-world currency and soley in-game lootboxes:
Algorithms for loot boxes might end up being built like those in poker machines:
Pyrebirdd on September 19th, 2018 at 04:22 UTC »
Just apply the regular gambling regulations to games with loot crates.
rolfraikou on September 19th, 2018 at 02:18 UTC »
EDIT: Getting a lot of repeating feedback. It does bring up an interesting point about how we view "blind bag toys" and trading cards. Maybe it's partially how easy it is to keep buying more loot boxes, as your card is already set up to keep spending. When I bought trading cards, I'd buy pack, go outside, open it, and see what I got. So I didn't just manically buy 40 packs in one sitting until I got the rare card I wanted. Also, for games that don't repeat the same items and offer similar tier items it's not as bad. (Example: You will get a mount that is the same speed no matter what, but you might get the gold one instead of the silver. Gameplay wise, identical outcome.)
ORIGINAL POST: I've totally fine with free to play games selling you goods in the game. But the loot boxes, where you have a "chance" of getting an item needs to stop. That is gambling.
If I'm told "$10 gets you this mount and armor" I'm paying for a thing I want. If "This $10 loot box may contain the armor and/or mount you want" it could be $300 before I get what I actually wanted? That's just insane.