Are Loot Boxes Addictive? Analyzing Participant’s Physiological Arousal While Opening a Loot Box

Abstract

Loot boxes in video games have blurred the lines between gaming and gambling. Research suggests the thrill from gambling comes from associated increases in physiological arousal not possible monetary gains. Gamers performing microtransactions to purchase loot boxes can lead to similar increases in physiological arousal. However, problematic gamblers no longer receive increases in arousal and become hyposensitive to reward. This hyposensitivity may also be present in problematic gamers. Twenty-five adult male participants took part in the within-participant design experiment measuring heart rate (HR) and galvanic skin response (GSR) while they were gaming and performing a microtransaction. GSR increased from baseline. HR decreased while performing a microtransaction. There was a negative correlation between gaming addiction scores and participants’ physiological arousal. The increases in arousal suggest microtransactions in gaming could potentially lead to problematic levels of use, while hyposensitivity could explain the higher gaming addiction relating to lower arousal during gameplay.