In the gaming world, a loot box is a virtual container that a player can either earn through gameplay or purchase with real money (usually converted into a virtual currency like Robux or V-Bucks). The catch? You have no idea what’s inside until you open it.

It could be a legendary "skin" (a cosmetic outfit) that makes your character look "sigma" or "Ohio" (basically, cool or weird, depending on the week's slang), or it could be a "common" item that is essentially digital trash.

Technically, these aren't legally classified as "gambling" in most of the U.S. because you can't officially "cash out" your winnings for real money. But if you ask any behavioral psychologist—or any parent who has seen their kid's face fall after spending $20 and getting nothing but duplicate stickers—the mechanics are identical to a slot machine.

It’s not just that kids want the shiny items. It’s the anticipation.

Video games use something called Variable Ratio Reinforcement. This is the same principle that keeps people pulling the lever on a slot machine. If you won every time, it would get boring. If you never won, you’d quit. But if you win sometimes, and you never know which time is the big one, your brain releases a massive hit of dopamine every time you try.

For a child whose prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that handles impulse control and long-term consequences) is still "under construction," this is an unfair fight. They aren't "being bad" or "addicted"; they are responding to a finely-tuned psychological trap designed by some of the smartest software engineers in the world.

Not all games use loot boxes, but some of the most popular ones are built entirely around this "surprise" economy.

Roblox isn't one game; it's a platform of millions. Many individual games within it, like "Pet Simulator 99" or various "Anime Fighters," rely heavily on "eggs" or "crates." Kids spend Robux to hatch a pet, hoping for a "Huge" or "Titanic" version. The odds are often astronomical—sometimes one in a million—but the game celebrates every "near miss" to keep them trying. Learn more about how Robux is in fact real money

This is the "Final Boss" of loot boxes. In the "Ultimate Team" mode, players buy "packs" of cards to build their soccer team. To get the best players (like Mbappé or Messi), you almost have to spend money on packs. It’s a "pay-to-win" system that can drain a bank account faster than you can say "goal."

This is a "Gacha" game. It’s beautiful, it’s high-quality, and it’s free to play—but the entire game is designed to make you want to "Pull" for new characters. The animations for these pulls are flashy, exciting, and specifically designed to trigger that "just one more" feeling.

While they recently moved away from "Brawl Boxes" to a more transparent "Starr Road" system, they still have "Starr Drops" which are random rewards. It’s a bit better than it used to be, but the "surprise" element is still a core part of the daily habit.

Interestingly, the original Overwatch popularized loot boxes, but the sequel moved toward a "Battle Pass" and direct-purchase store. This is a trend in the industry: moving from random boxes to "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) stores where items are only available for 24 hours. Still predatory? Maybe. But at least you know what you're buying.

At this age, kids don't truly grasp that digital currency is real money. They see a "Buy" button as a way to continue the fun.

This is when "Skin Shaming" starts. Kids get teased if they have a "default" skin. They want loot boxes because they want to fit in.

Teens are old enough to understand the "math" of the house edge.

How do you know if loot boxes are becoming a problem? Look for these behaviors:

Check out our guide on how to spot dark patterns in games

Don't come at this as a lecture. Come at it as a "we are on the same team against the game developers."

Try saying: "Hey, I noticed this game has those mystery crates. Did you know the people who make this game hire 'brain scientists' to make those crates feel really exciting so you'll want to spend more? It’s kind of like a trick. Have you ever felt like the game was trying to trick you into spending your Robux?"

By framing it as the game vs. the kid, you're not the "bad guy"—the predatory monetization is.

Loot boxes aren't going anywhere because they are incredibly profitable. As a parent, you don't need to ban every game that has a "surprise" element, but you do need to be the "Prefrontal Cortex" for your child.

Next Steps:

Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate alternatives to gambling-heavy games