Abstract
The expansion of online gaming has been accompanied by monetisation systems that increasingly resemble gambling. Loot boxes, skin betting markets and chance-based microtransactions embed randomised rewards and reinforcement mechanisms within gameplay, blurring the boundary between gaming and gambling. Loot boxes are the most studied example, with consistent evidence linking spending to problem gambling severity among adolescents. These systems replicate key features of gambling products, including random outcomes, near-miss effects and audiovisual cues. Regulatory bodies have raised similar concerns. The UK Gambling Commission has reported links between in-game spending and harm in young people, while the House of Lords has concluded that loot boxes warrant regulation under gambling frameworks. The European Parliament has also highlighted risks related to addictive game design and child exposure. Additional risks arise from secondary markets such as skin betting, where virtual items are wagered, often outside formal oversight, increasing accessibility for minors. Young people may be particularly vulnerable due to heightened reward sensitivity and limited financial literacy, amplified by design strategies that maximise engagement and spending. European regulatory responses remain fragmented. Belgium has effectively prohibited certain paid loot boxes under gambling law, while other countries rely on partial restrictions or industry self-regulation. Policy approaches include clearer legal classification of gambling-like mechanics, transparency on reward probabilities, restrictions for minors, robust age verification and enforcement mechanisms. Broader strategies include duty-of-care obligations, independent oversight and integration into gambling and child protection frameworks. The convergence of gaming and gambling represents a growing public health concern requiring coordinated European action.
Key messages
• Online gaming increasingly embeds gambling mechanics, exposing young people to financial and psychological harm, requiring coordinated public health and regulatory responses across Europe.
• Effective protection requires combining regulation, education and safeguarding, including restrictions on monetisation, stronger age verification and school-based prevention strategies.