East Lucy C, Sauer James D, Lowe-Calverley Emily, Hall Lauren C, Martin Benjamin J, Drummond Aaron
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Churchill Avenue, Sandy Bay, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 31;15(1):32014. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-15301-4.
Loot boxes are purchasable digital containers in video games that hold randomised rewards. Many loot boxes meet both psychological and legal criteria for gambling. Previous studies have linked risky engagement with, and increased spending on, loot boxes with both problem gambling and excessive gaming symptomatology. Given similarities between loot boxes and conventional gambling, and the well documented relationship between alcohol and gambling, this study examined whether loot box spending was associated with drinking behaviours. In a pre-registered study, participants (N = 199) from Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and the United States completed an online survey assessing alcohol consumption, loot box spending behaviours, and problem gambling and gaming symptomatology. Small-to-moderate positive correlations between drinking during gaming sessions and increased risky loot box engagement and spending were observed. In contrast, measures of problematic alcohol consumption did not correlate with increased spending or risky engagement with loot boxes. Results suggest that drinking alcohol while gaming may be associated with risky engagement with, and increased spending on, loot boxes.
开箱礼包是电子游戏中可购买的数字容器,里面装有随机奖励。许多开箱礼包符合赌博的心理和法律标准。先前的研究已将对开箱礼包的高风险参与及在其上增加的支出与问题赌博和过度游戏症状联系起来。鉴于开箱礼包与传统赌博之间的相似性,以及酒精与赌博之间有充分记录的关系,本研究考察了开箱礼包支出是否与饮酒行为有关。在一项预先注册的研究中,来自澳大利亚、奥特亚罗瓦(新西兰)和美国的参与者(N = 199)完成了一项在线调查,评估酒精消费、开箱礼包支出行为以及问题赌博和游戏症状。研究观察到,游戏过程中的饮酒与开箱礼包的高风险参与及支出增加之间存在小到中等程度的正相关。相比之下,问题酒精消费的指标与开箱礼包支出增加或高风险参与并无关联。结果表明,游戏时饮酒可能与开箱礼包的高风险参与及支出增加有关。