Loot boxes, in-game spending and gambling-like games

Open one and you get virtual items of different rarity: skins, weapons, characters or power-ups. Rare items are, by design, hard to get.

In gacha games, players spend digital currency for a chance at characters or items of different rarity. Gacha is very similar to loot boxes, and the terms are often used interchangeably.

Item packs, card packs and prize wheels work the same way as loot boxes: pay first, then see what you got.

Some players bet in-game items on outside sites. In a 2024 Great Britain survey, 37% of young people knew this was possible and 4% had done it.

Since 2020, U.S. games that sell random items carry the notice “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)”. Older games may not show it, even if they have loot boxes.

The excitement of opening a box can feel as good as the prize itself, or better. That’s why one more pull can feel so tempting, even after a run of bad luck.

In a 2025 case, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said one popular game implied a good chance of winning top-tier characters when the real odds were much lower.

Major console and app store companies require games on their platforms to publish drop rates: the odds of getting each rarity level.

Countdown timers and “ends soon” banners can make you buy before you’ve thought it through. The FTC has warned about countdown timers that create false urgency online.

When you pay in game currency, it’s easy to lose track of the dollars behind it. See “Virtual currency and hidden costs” below.

A 2021 review found a link between buying loot boxes and problem gambling in 12 of 13 studies. A review for the UK government found a “stable and consistent” link across 15 studies, with some signs that higher spending goes with more severe problems.

These studies can’t prove that loot boxes cause gambling problems. It may be that people who already gamble are drawn to loot boxes, or that shared traits like impulsivity play a part, or both.

In 2022, the UK government decided not to regulate loot boxes as gambling, partly because prizes usually can’t be cashed out. It said children should not be able to buy them without parental approval and asked the games industry to act.

In the U.S., the FTC has taken action over how loot boxes are sold, including a proposed ban on selling them to under-16s without parental consent in one 2025 case.

1. Find what a currency bundle costs in real money.
2. Divide by how much currency you get.
3. Multiply by the cost of one pull or box.
4. Now you know what each box really costs.

When bundle sizes don’t match item prices, you’re often left with a little extra currency, which can nudge you to buy another bundle to use it up. Notice this pattern, and decide in advance whether you’ll top up.

Consoles, phones and app stores keep a record of purchases. Looking back over a few months can show the real total, which is useful information, not a reason for shame.

Most parents have some kind of rule about in-game purchases. Agreeing on house rules first makes controls feel fair rather than like a punishment.

Questions to talk through

• How much is okay to spend each month, and whose money is it?
• Are random-item purchases allowed, or only items you can see?
• What happens if someone spends without asking?

• Remove saved card details
• Require a password or approval for every purchase
• Set a monthly spending limit
• Turn off in-app purchases on phones and tablets

The ESRB’s ParentalTools.org has step-by-step guides for consoles, phones and PCs.

The FTC warns that games advertised as ad-free can still show ads for paid features, and that a subscription may not unlock everything. Read reviews and watch gameplay videos before downloading.

Look up a game’s published drop rates together. Seeing that a rare item has a very small chance can be eye-opening, and it builds money skills for life.

• Delete saved cards from every console, phone and account
• Turn on a password for every purchase
• Set a monthly limit in your account settings
• Use a prepaid gift card for a fixed amount, if you want to keep spending a little

• A monthly amount you’re genuinely okay losing
• A 24-hour wait before any purchase
• Only buy items you can see, not mystery rewards
• No buying when you’re tired, upset or after a loss

Write down each purchase and how you felt before and after. Patterns often appear quickly, like buying late at night or after a frustrating match.

Check the ESRB notice or store page before downloading. Games without “Includes Random Items” can be an easier choice if mystery rewards are hard for you to resist.

Free and confidential, for anyone worried about gambling-like spending and for their families. You can also chat at ncpgambling.org/chat. It connects you to local help across the U.S.

A therapist can help with urges, stress or low mood that drive spending. For a child who struggles to cut back on gaming, pediatricians suggest calling your pediatrician.

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time, in the U.S. It’s free and confidential.

Find A Helpline (findahelpline.com) lists free, confidential helplines in many countries, including for gambling.