Parents are being advised to be aware of the video games their children are playing over fears they can lead to gambling addiction. The trend of 'loot boxes' allows players to pay for random rewards online, and in some cases, children are maxing out credit cards by doing so. Loot boxes allow players to pay for random rewards, such as new outfits (or 'skins') for their in-game characters or - in some cases - stronger characters or gameplay advantages. The survey suggests loot boxes are purchased by two in five young gamers. The results also shows that 55% of young people believe that playing a mobile or video game could lead to a young person gambling.

Source: Irish Examiner December 20, 2019 11:03 UTC