{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,10]],"date-time":"2026-11-10T04:30:33Z","timestamp":1794285033072,"version":"4.9.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,23]],"date-time":"2019-11-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1574467200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,23]],"date-time":"2019-11-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1574467200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000038","name":"Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000038","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Gambl Stud"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Loot boxes are a purchasable video-game feature consisting of randomly determined, in-game virtual items. Due to their chance-based nature, there is much debate as to whether they constitute a form of gambling. We sought to address this issue by examining whether players treat virtual loot box rewards in a way that parallels established reward reactivity for monetary rewards in slots play. Across two sets of experiments, we show that loot boxes containing rarer items are more valuable, arousing, rewarding and urge-inducing to players, similar to the way slots gamblers treat rare large wins in slots play. Importantly, we show in Experiment 2 that the duration of Post Reinforcement Pauses, an index of reward reactivity, are longer for boxes with rarer items. Boxes containing rarer rewards also trigger larger Skin Conductance Responses and larger force responses\u2014indices of positive arousal. Findings of Experiment 2 also revealed that there was an increase in anticipatory arousal prior to the reveal of loot box rewards. Collectively, our results elucidate the structural similarities between loot boxes and specific gambling games. The fact that players find rarer game items hedonically rewarding and motivating has implications for potential risky or excessive loot box use for some players.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-019-09913-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,23]],"date-time":"2019-11-23T01:02:52Z","timestamp":1574470972000},"page":"141-163","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":65,"title":["Rare Loot Box Rewards Trigger Larger Arousal and Reward Responses, and Greater Urge to Open More Loot Boxes"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"37","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2133-3096","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chanel J.","family":"Larche","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katrina","family":"Chini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christopher","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mike J.","family":"Dixon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Myra","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"9913_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-012-9304-2","author":"J Baudinet","year":"2013","unstructured":"Baudinet, J., & Blaszczynski, A. (2013). Arousal and gambling mode preference: A review of the literature. Journal of Gambling Studies. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-012-9304-2.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"issue":"1","key":"9913_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/0005-7916(94)90063-9","volume":"25","author":"MM Bradley","year":"1994","unstructured":"Bradley, M. M., & Lang, P. J. (1994). Measuring emotion: The self-assessment manikin and the semantic differential. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 25(1), 49\u201359. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0005-7916(94)90063-9.","journal-title":"Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry"},{"key":"9913_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2019.04.009","volume":"96","author":"GA Brooks","year":"2019","unstructured":"Brooks, G. A., & Clark, L. (2019). Associations between loot box use, problematic gaming and gambling, and gambling-related cognitions. Addictive behaviors, 96, 26\u201334.","journal-title":"Addictive behaviors"},{"issue":"9\u201310","key":"9913_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1001","DOI":"10.3109\/10826088609077251","volume":"21","author":"RIF Brown","year":"1986","unstructured":"Brown, R. I. F. (1986). Arousal and sensation-seeking components in the general explanation of gambling and gambling addictions. International Journal of the Addictions, 21(9\u201310), 1001\u20131016. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3109\/10826088609077251.","journal-title":"International Journal of the Addictions"},{"key":"9913_CR5","unstructured":"Carpenter, N. (2017). Overwatch loot box drop rates confirmed across all regions. Dot Esports. Retrieved April 15, 2019 from https:\/\/dotesports.com\/overwatch\/news\/overwatch-loot-box-drop-rates-blizzard-15955."},{"issue":"1","key":"9913_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-011-9247-z","volume":"28","author":"L Clark","year":"2012","unstructured":"Clark, L., Crooks, B., Clarke, R., Aitken, M. R., & Dunn, B. D. (2012). Physiological responses to near-miss outcomes and personal control during simulated gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 28(1), 123\u2013137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-011-9247-z.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"key":"9913_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.1016\/S0896-6273(01)00225-2","volume":"29","author":"HD Critchley","year":"2001","unstructured":"Critchley, H. D., Mathias, C. J., & Dolan, R. J. (2001). Neural activity in the human brain relating to uncertainty and arousal during anticipation. Neuron, 29, 537\u2013545. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S0896-6273(01)00225-2.","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"9913_CR8","first-page":"200","volume-title":"Handbook of psychophysiology","author":"ME Dawson","year":"2007","unstructured":"Dawson, M. E., Shell, A. M., & Filion, D. L. (2007). The electrodermal system. In J. T. Cacoppo, L. G. Tassinary, & G. G. Berntson (Eds.), Handbook of psychophysiology (3rd ed., pp. 200\u2013223). New York: Cambridge University Press.","edition":"3"},{"key":"9913_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1348\/000712699161503","volume":"90","author":"PH Delfabbro","year":"1999","unstructured":"Delfabbro, P. H., & Winefield, A. H. (1999). Poker-machine gambling: An analysis of within session characteristics. British Journal of Psychology, 90, 425\u2013439.","journal-title":"British Journal of Psychology"},{"issue":"3","key":"9913_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1080\/14459795.2011.603134","volume":"11","author":"MJ Dixon","year":"2011","unstructured":"Dixon, M. J., Harrigan, K. A., Jarick, M., MacLaren, V., Fugelsang, J. A., & Sheepy, E. (2011). Psychophysiological arousal signatures of near misses in slot machine play. International Gambling Studies, 11(3), 393\u2013407. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14459795.2011.603134.","journal-title":"International Gambling Studies"},{"issue":"1","key":"9913_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-017-9699-x","volume":"34","author":"MJ Dixon","year":"2018","unstructured":"Dixon, M. J., Larche, C. J., Stange, M., Graydon, C., & Fugelsang, J. A. (2018a). Near-misses and stop buttons in slot machine play: An investigation of how they affect players, and may foster erroneous cognitions. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34(1), 161\u2013180.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"issue":"4","key":"9913_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-012-9333-x","volume":"29","author":"MJ Dixon","year":"2013","unstructured":"Dixon, M. J., MacLaren, V., Jarick, M., Fugelsang, J. A., & Harrigan, K. A. (2013). The frustrating effects of just missing the jackpot: Slot machine near-misses trigger large skin conductance responses, but no post-reinforcement pauses. Journal of Gambling Studies, 29(4), 661\u2013674. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-012-9333-x.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"issue":"1","key":"9913_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-017-9695-1","volume":"34","author":"MJ Dixon","year":"2018","unstructured":"Dixon, M. J., Stange, M., Larche, C. J., Graydon, C., Fugelsang, J. A., & Harrigan, K. A. (2018b). Dark flow, depression and multiline slot machine play. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34(1), 73\u201384.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"key":"9913_CR14","first-page":"589","volume-title":"The handbook of attention","author":"MJ Dixon","year":"2015","unstructured":"Dixon, M. J., Templeton, J., Collins, K., Wojtowicz, L., Harrigan, K. A., Fugelsang, J. A., et al. (2015). Exploring attention in the \u2018reel\u2019 world: Visual and auditory influences on reactions to wins and near-misses in multiline slot machine play. In J. M. Fawcett, E. F. Risko, & A. Kingstone (Eds.), The handbook of attention (pp. 589\u2013621). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press."},{"issue":"8","key":"9913_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"530","DOI":"10.1038\/s41562-018-0360-1","volume":"2","author":"A Drummond","year":"2018","unstructured":"Drummond, A., & Sauer, J. D. (2018). Video game loot boxes are psychologically akin to gambling. Nature Human Behaviour, 2(8), 530. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41562-018-0360-1.","journal-title":"Nature Human Behaviour"},{"key":"9913_CR16","unstructured":"Guskin, E. (2018). Teenagers are fuelling a competitive gaming tidal wave. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2019 from https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/sports\/wp\/2018\/03\/09\/teenagers-are-fueling-an-e-gaming-tidal-wave\/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8fe419a4e05c."},{"key":"9913_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.4309\/jgi.2008.21.6","volume":"21","author":"J Haw","year":"2008","unstructured":"Haw, J. (2008). Random-ratio schedules of reinforcement: The role of early wins and unreinforced trials. Journal of Gambling Issues, 21, 56\u201367. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4309\/jgi.2008.21.6.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Issues"},{"key":"9913_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11469-018-0009-3","author":"DL King","year":"2018","unstructured":"King, D. L., & Delfabbro, P. H. (2018). Video game monetization (e.g., \u2018loot boxes\u2019): A blueprint for practical social responsibility measures. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11469-018-0009-3.","journal-title":"International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction."},{"issue":"11","key":"9913_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1529","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.1995.tb02815.x","volume":"90","author":"L Sharpe","year":"1995","unstructured":"Sharpe, L., Tarrier, N., Schotte, D., & Spence, S. H. (1995). The role of autonomic gambling arousal in problem gambling. Addiction, 90(11), 1529\u20131540. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1360-0443.1995.tb02815.x.","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"issue":"1","key":"9913_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-016-9611-0","volume":"33","author":"M Stange","year":"2017","unstructured":"Stange, M., Grau, M., Osazuwa, S., Graydon, C., & Dixon, M. J. (2017a). Reinforcing small wins and frustrating near-misses: Further investigation into scratch card gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33(1), 47\u201363. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-016-9611-0.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"issue":"1","key":"9913_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-015-9538-x","volume":"32","author":"M Stange","year":"2016","unstructured":"Stange, M., Graydon, C., & Dixon, M. J. (2016). \u201cI was that close\u201d: Investigating players\u2019 reactions to losses, wins, and near-misses on scratch cards. Journal of Gambling Studies, 32(1), 187\u2013203. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-015-9538-x.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"issue":"3","key":"9913_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-016-9662-2","volume":"33","author":"M Stange","year":"2017","unstructured":"Stange, M., Graydon, C., & Dixon, M. J. (2017b). Increased urge to gamble following near-miss outcomes may drive purchasing behaviour in scratch card gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33(3), 867\u2013879. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-016-9662-2.","journal-title":"Journal of Gambling Studies"},{"key":"9913_CR23","volume-title":"Dashed hopes and shattered dreams: On the psychology of disappointment","author":"WW van Dijk","year":"1999","unstructured":"van Dijk, W. W. (1999). Dashed hopes and shattered dreams: On the psychology of disappointment. Ridderprint BV: Ridderkerk."},{"issue":"3","key":"9913_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"631","DOI":"10.1080\/14640749408401131","volume":"47","author":"M Van Selst","year":"1994","unstructured":"Van Selst, M., & Jolicoeur, P. (1994). A solution to the effect of sample size on outlier elimination. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A, 47(3), 631\u2013650.","journal-title":"The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A"},{"issue":"11","key":"9913_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0206767","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0206767","volume":"13","author":"D Zendle","year":"2018","unstructured":"Zendle, D., & Cairns, P. (2018). Video game loot boxes are linked to problem gambling: Results of a large-scale survey. PLoS ONE, 13(11), e0206767. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0206767.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"3","key":"9913_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0213194","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0213194","volume":"14","author":"D Zendle","year":"2019","unstructured":"Zendle, D., & Cairns, P. (2019). Loot boxes are again linked to problem gambling: Results of a replication study. PLoS ONE, 14(3), e0213194.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"}],"container-title":["Journal of Gambling Studies"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10899-019-09913-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s10899-019-09913-5\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10899-019-09913-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,14]],"date-time":"2021-02-14T09:04:52Z","timestamp":1613293492000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s10899-019-09913-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,23]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,3]]}},"alternative-id":["9913"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10899-019-09913-5","relation":{},"ISSN":["1573-3602"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1573-3602","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,23]]},"assertion":[{"value":"23 November 2019","order":1,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Compliance with Ethical Standards"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Conflict of interest"}},{"value":"All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and\/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethical Standard"}}]}}