Over 1 Million People Exposed To Gambling Through Loot Boxes, Study Reveals

A study held by the Gambling Commission of UK reveals that loot boxes in games act as a gateway to gambling addiction.

Posted By | On 22nd, Nov. 2018

Loot boxes have been a prevalent issue in the video games industry for several years now, but it was only after last year’s massive Star Wars: Battlefront 2 controversy that they were brought fully to the forefront. Since then, loot boxes have been called predatory and intrusive by many, while several nations have even flat-out declared them to be a form of gambling, and as such, illegal.

While some have remained adamant that loot boxes aren’t a form of gambling, a recent study conducted by the Gambling Commission of UK (via BBC) has provided evidence that they are. In the study, which was about rampant and growing gambling addiction among young people in the UK, it was stated that loot boxes in video games, thanks to their randomized and monetary nature, act as a gateway for young people to proper gambling addiction, and that over a million people have been exposed to gambling through loot boxes. This report was based on an Ipsos Mori study that was conducted on 2,865 people who were between eleven to sixteen years of age.

It’s really surprising that, even in light of mounting evidence, publishers still consider having loot boxes in their games to be acceptable practice. EA stated just a couple months ago that they will push forward with such monetization methods, while Ubisoft’s upcoming Trials: Rising is also going to have cosmetic loot boxes.


Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Share Your Thoughts Below  (Always follow our comments policy!)



Keep On Reading!

God of War Ragnarok PC vs PS5 Graphics Analysis – An Excellent PC Version

God of War Ragnarok PC vs PS5 Graphics Analysis – An Excellent PC Version

Jetpack Interactive's port of the acclaimed action-adventure is a well-optimized experience, even with the occ...

Street Fighter 6 – Terry Bogard is Now Available

Street Fighter 6 – Terry Bogard is Now Available

The Legendary Hungry Wolf joins the roster with new Combo Trials and an Arcade Story. He's also a new Master i...

Marvel Rivals Gameplay Trailer Showcases Psylocke’s Psionic Abilities

Marvel Rivals Gameplay Trailer Showcases Psylocke’s Psionic Abilities

Based on Peach Momoko's Demon Days: X-Men, Sai is a Duelist, utilizing stealth and quick slashes to take down ...

New Batman Game is in Development at Rocksteady Studios – Rumour

New Batman Game is in Development at Rocksteady Studios – Rumour

A new Batman game is in the works, and PlayStation might also be trying to secure an exclusivity deal for the ...

Predator: Hunting Grounds Launches for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on October 1

Predator: Hunting Grounds Launches for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on October 1

Illfonic's asymmetrical 4v1 multiplayer shooter, which originally launched for PS4 and PC in 2020, is ready to...

Black Myth: Wukong Patch Fixes Crashes, Corrects English Voiceover, and More

Black Myth: Wukong Patch Fixes Crashes, Corrects English Voiceover, and More

Other changes include improvements for Yaoguai King "Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master" and buffs for the Spikeshaft ...