Loot box engagement and problem gambling among adolescent gamers: Findings from a national survey

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 103; p. 106254
• Main Authors: Kristiansen, Søren, Severin, Majbritt Christine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Denmark; Female; Gambling; Gambling - psychology; Humans; Loot box; Loot box engagement patterns; Male; Problem gambling; Video Games - economics; Denmark; Loot box engagement patterns; Gambling; Loot box; Adolescents; Problem gambling
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106254

•More than half of the young gamers have engaged with loot boxes during the last 12 months.•Loot box users are predominantly male.•Loot box engagement is linked to problem gambling. Loot boxes represent a form of microtransaction in many video games that have some resemblance with gambling. Research on this subject is still in its infancy, and particular there are few studies involving young people. Using cross-sectional survey data from a representative sample of 1,137 participants aged 12–16 years, this study examined loot box engagement patterns and links with problem gambling severity. Nearly half (45.6%) of the participants that were involved in gaming in the past year engaged in loot box activities at some level, and loot box users were predominantly male. The vast majority of the males (93%) had earned, bought, or sold items from a loot box whereas 15% of the females reported engagement with loot boxes. There was a significant positive correlation between loot box engagement and problem gambling severity when controlling for core demo-graphic factors. Compared to participants with no engagement or participants who solely obtained a loot box, the proportions of at-risk and problem gamblers were higher among those, who had purchased or sold items from a loot box. The findings provide new insights into the links between loot box engagement and problem gambling among adolescent populations. Specifically, the study provides new knowledge on different engagement patterns among loot box users and their implications. On this basis, different measures to reduce loot box purchases and reduce marketplace structures are discussed.