Psychosocial and financial vulnerabilities in loot box purchasing: The mediating role of problem gambling

Loot boxes are prevalent monetization mechanisms in digital games, providing a randomized set of virtual items such as weapons or cosmetic features. They are popular among gamblers and pose various risks due to their gambling-like and addictive nature, but little is known about psychosocial vulnerabilities and financial consequences of purchasing them. This article examined psychosocial associations with self-reported increase in loot box purchasing and indebtedness among past-year gamblers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cross-sectional survey data were collected in April 2021 from Finnish, Swedish, and British past-year gamblers aged 18 to 75 (n = 2,022). Measures of loneliness, psychological resilience, and problem gambling were studied in relation to loot box purchasing and indebtedness. Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical technique.
Loneliness was found to be a risk factor for self-reported increase in loot box purchasing. Contrary to expectations, no evidence was found regarding the protective role of psychological resilience in loot box purchasing. Increased loot box purchasing was positively associated with problem gambling. The positive association between loot box purchasing and indebtedness was indirect and mediated via problem gambling.
The findings suggest that loot box purchasing may not itself be a major contributor to one’s financial problems. However, loot box purchasing can add to one’s financial strain particularly among problem gamblers, making such problems likely to accumulate. The widespread availability and addictive nature of the loot box system makes it crucial to regulate such monetization practices to protect vulnerable individuals such as young people, lonely individuals, and problem gamblers.