Problem gambling and income as predictors of loot box spending

ABSTRACT Loot boxes are randomized virtual rewards often purchasable for real money. They have often been compared to gambling activities, and a consistent link between loot box spending and problem gambling symptomatology has been found. We reanalyzed data from 1049 participants across three countries to examine the interaction between yearly income and problem gambling symptomatology on loot box spending. Results evidenced the best model of loot box spending included the combined main effects of income and PGSI, but there was no evidence for an interaction between these factors. Follow-up analysis of the main effect of income indicated greater spending on loot boxes in higher income brackets compared to lower income brackets. Overall, problem gambling symptomatology appears more important than income, but both contribute to loot box spending.