Loot boxes are virtual crates that contain random in-game items and can be purchased for real money. Loot boxes are a common component in Pay2Win games, which are games where players can spend money to gain an advantage over other players. This study looked at the characteristics of Pay2Win players who had purchased loot boxes compared to those who had not. The researchers recruited 6,000 German Internet users. Of these participants, 1,508 were Pay2Win players, of which 586 reported having purchased loot boxes in the past year. Loot box users tended to be younger and male. A high number (45.9%) of loot box users met the criteria for problem gambling. Two-thirds met the criteria for problem gaming. Younger age and lower level of education were associated with loot box use. Loot box use and frequency of purchase were associated with gambling problems. Taken together, loot box users may be at risk of experiencing gambling problems.
