Loot Boxes and Gambling: A Hidden Threat to Youth?

01.07.2025
Recent studies suggest that young people who actively engage with video games featuring loot boxes may face serious gambling-related issues. Research from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium found that loot box users are at a higher risk of developing gambling habits.
Crypto Bookmakers: What Are They and How to Use Them?
📊 According to the Emerging Adult’s Gambling Survey in the UK, young people who purchase loot boxes are more likely to experience gambling problems. These findings align with international research conducted in Australia, the UK, and Hungary, which concluded that loot box users often exhibit behaviors similar to those of gamblers. This highlights the need to regulate loot boxes under gambling legislation.

🎮 Loot Boxes and Skin Gambling

Skin gambling involves using virtual skins as stakes in gambling activities. This practice is closely tied to loot boxes, as rare items obtained from them can be used for betting on third-party platforms. It is important to distinguish between loot boxes, which are integrated into game mechanics, and skin gambling, which takes place outside of the game environment.