Have you ever found yourself opening loot box after loot box hoping to get a rare item? Well, this is not only tied to Fortnite but to most other online games. The idea is simple, developers offer a box with a promise of unique and rare things inside. However, these loot boxes often cost money, and you are not guaranteed a rare item.
I don’t know about you, but that sounds just like gambling. Let’s compare it to slots for example. You spin the reels, hoping to land on a winning combination and you don’t know when it is going to happen.
Well, we have the same thing with loot boxes. On top of that, the items you get are just a piece of code stuck in the developer’s database, so you spend money on something that you don’t know is going to drop and if it does drop, you don’t really own it.
Yes, it is kind of a shady business with today’s games and loot boxes, but there are some changes in the world, especially in Fortnite where developers are always setting trends for new gaming elements.
Let’s learn more about loot boxes and find out whether buying Llamas in Fortnite can be considered gambling.
What Are Loot Boxes, Really?
So, what’s the real definition of a loot box in a video game? Well, it is a mysterious present that is often bought with virtual money (sometimes with real) but in order to get virtual money you need to buy using real money.
In most games, there are different tiers of loot boxes, each comes with a unique drop rate of a rare item. We have cheaper loot boxes where legendries are hard to come by, and more expensive ones where you have a higher chance of getting a rare or legendary item.
Most of the time these items are purely cosmetic, just because allowing players to get in-game advantage with unique items that make a difference in the gameplay through loot boxes will make the game pay-to-win and people will lose interest.
That’s why in most cases people can get skins, weapons, and appearance-enhancing elements from loot boxes.
But this is where the trouble starts. You are spending real money, to get a random digital item that is not guaranteed. This sounds a lot like gambling to some.
Why Do Some People Consider It Gambling?
It’s all about chance and money. The argument that loot boxes are gambling is rooted in the fact that players, especially younger ones, are spending money to get randomized rewards, a key feature of many gambling activities. In countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, loot boxes have been outright banned, as they were determined to violate gambling laws.
The reasoning? If you’re paying real cash for a chance to get something valuable—especially without knowing what you’ll get—this is no different from throwing money on a roulette wheel.
The “It’s Not Gambling!” Side of the Debate
Now, the gaming industry (and Fortnite’s creators, Epic Games) don’t exactly agree. They argue that loot boxes are more like collectible card packs or toys, where you might not know exactly what’s inside but you’re guaranteed something of value.
Fortnite, sensing the heat, made some changes. They’ve implemented systems where players can see what’s inside a loot box before buying. Does this fix the issue? Well, it’s a start, but not everyone’s satisfied. The randomness is still there, just a little less shady.
Fortnite, specifically, has moved towards a more transparent system with x-ray llamas—loot boxes where you can see what you’ll get before purchasing.
They argue that transparency reduces the gambling-like element.
Also, unlike traditional gambling, you can’t cash out loot box rewards for real money—no gold skins for cash at your local casino. However, some critics say the psychological rush players get when they open loot boxes is no different than that found in gambling. The randomness, the thrill, the potential for disappointment or excitement—sounds familiar, right?
What Do the Regulators Say?
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has stepped in to regulate how these loot boxes are marketed. They demand clear, upfront information about the existence of loot boxes in any game, and they’ve taken action against companies like EA for being sneaky about it in their ads.
The ASA also notes that while loot boxes don’t technically meet the full legal definition of gambling in many places (e.g., Australia and the U.S.), there’s growing pressure for more regulation. Other countries are also on the same path. For example, there may be strict gambling laws in Canada, but there are no specific regulations regarding loot boxes.
Countries like the U.K. are debating whether loot boxes should be considered gambling, and new laws could be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Germany has taken a different route, focusing on the protection of minors by implementing age restrictions for games that include loot boxes.
Are Loot Boxes Harmful?
This is where things get a little tricky. While loot boxes don’t pose the same immediate financial risks as gambling, they encourage microtransactions, which can add up over time. And there’s concern about how these systems exploit younger players, some of whom may not fully understand the value of money or the risks of overspending on in-game purchases.