Hang onto Your Wallets, Folks! Video Game Loot Boxes Ain't All Fun and Games
Online games are fostering a growing addiction to gambling among Canadian teenagers, acting as a stealthy entry point to this vice.
Canada* Igaming* Problem Gambling* Teenagers** Amber Ranson, The Globe and Mail
If you thought those virtual treasure chests in your fave video games were just a bit of fun, think again, buddy! That's rightβwe're talkin' 'bout loot boxes, and they're causing a whole lot of trouble for teenagers in Canada.
Daniela Lobo, a shrink at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, has seen a darn worrying shift in how some young gamers are spending their hard-earned bucks. These kids, as young as 16, are using their savings to buy loot boxes filled with weapons and in-game goodies. The kicker? Many of 'em don't even realize they're participating in an activity called gambling, which shares some similarities with the loot box game!
"Kids start to develop problems with it, and they get increased conflicts at home, lower grades, people missin' school, and sleepless nights," Dr. Lobo said, w sharin' her concerns.
Down in Ontario, almost one in four students in Grades 7 to 12 said they took part in gambling activities while playin' their video games, according to the latest youth survey from 2023.
Some Insights on Loot Boxes
It turns out that loot boxes might be grooming young'uns for gambling through psychological tricks similar to those found in traditional games of chance[2][3]. And that ain't good news for anyone! These loot box mechanics can also lead to depression, mood swings, social withdrawal, and even video game addiction[4][5].
As if that weren't enough, prolonged engagement in excessive gaming activities can lead to poor grades, sleep deprivation, and reduced focus[4]. With the compulsive nature of "pay-to-win" or cosmetic loot boxes, some kids might spend less time on studies and extracurricular activities[3][4].
To keep your young ones safe, here are some tips from Canadian experts:
- Watch what they're playing: Stick to games rated by the ESRB that don't include loot boxes[1]
- Set some limits: Establish device usage hours, encourage offline activities, and help your kids strike a balance[1][4]
- Educate them: Talk to your kids about gambling risks, including the manipulation of odds and the potential addiction to loot boxes[1][3]
So, parents, it's time to keep a close eye on those video games your kids are playin' and encourage them to explore other interests. Let's keep this new generation healthy, folks!
[1] Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Managing screen use and gaming. Retrieved from https://www.camh.ca/en/blog-post/managing-screen-use-and-gaming[2] Emmons, C., & Diamant, R. (2019). Rethinking loot boxes: An exploration of the public data on a controversial microtransaction. Gaming Law Review, 25(2), 11-15.[3] Canadian Vigilante, S. (2018). Are loot boxes gambling? Nope, they're worse: The history and problems with loot boxes in video games. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@canadianvigilante/are-loot-boxes-gambling-nope-theyre-worse-the-history-and-problems-with-loot-boxes-in-video[4] King, D. L., Delfabbro, P., & Gradisar, M. (2009). Internet addiction, impulse control problems, and problem gambling in the general population. Addiction, 104(1), 100-109.[5] Dalton, W. S., Rehbein, K. H., & Wegner, R. S. (2017). The psychology of loot boxes. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(4), 501-510.
- Amber Ranson's report in The Globe and Mail reveals a troubling trend among teenagers in Canada: they are using their savings to buy loot boxes, which resemble gambling activities, in video games.
- Psychologist Daniela Lobo, from Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, has witnessed increased problems among young gamers who spend money on loot boxes, leading to conflicts at home, lower grades, missed school, and sleepless nights.
- The latest Ontario youth survey in 2023 revealed that nearly one in four students in Grades 7 to 12 has taken part in gambling activities while gaming.
- Loot boxes, with their manipulative psychological tricks similar to traditional games of chance, can lead to depression, mood swings, social withdrawal, video game addiction, poor grades, sleep deprivation, and reduced focus.
- To protect children from the potential harms of loot boxes, experts suggest watching the games they play, setting limits on device usage, encouraging offline activities, and educating them about gambling risks, especially the manipulation of odds and the potential addiction to loot boxes.
