A loot box is a paid mystery item in a video game: your child spends real money, or game currency bought with real money, without knowing exactly what they’ll get. Packs, chests, spins and capsules can all work this way. Because the reward is random, loot boxes feel a lot like gambling, and research has linked heavy loot box spending to problem gambling. Here’s how they work, what the rules say, and how to keep game spending under control.
Fast Facts About Loot Boxes
- Games with loot boxes carry the ESRB notice “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items),” added in April 2020.[1][2]
- Apple and Google require games with loot boxes to show the odds of each item before purchase.[5][6]
- A survey of 7,422 gamers found that spending more on loot boxes went with more severe problem gambling.[4]
- In 2022, Fortnite maker Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million in refunds over design tricks the FTC said led to unwanted purchases.[3]
- Every major console lets parents turn off or limit purchases.[7][8][9]
What Is a Loot Box?
The ESRB defines it as an in-game offer to buy digital items with real money, or with game currency that can be bought with real money, where the player doesn’t know beforehand which items they’ll receive. Its examples include loot boxes, item packs and mystery awards.[1] The ESRB applies the label to games with any randomized purchase, including gacha games, card packs, prize wheels and treasure chests.[2]
That’s different from regular in-game purchases, where your child knows exactly what they’re buying, like a specific skin or level.[1]
Why Loot Boxes Worry Parents
- The link to gambling: in a 2018 survey of 7,422 gamers, the amount people spent on loot boxes was linked to how severe their problem gambling was, and that link was stronger than for other in-game purchases. The researchers couldn’t tell whether loot boxes lead to gambling problems or whether people with gambling problems are drawn to loot boxes.[4]
- Real money feels unreal: game currencies like coins or gems hide what an item actually costs.
- Design can push purchases: the FTC alleged that Fortnite’s confusing button layout charged players with a single button press, including while waking the game from sleep mode or on a loading screen, and that children made purchases without their parents knowing. Epic agreed to pay $245 million in refunds.[3]
What the Rules Say
- ESRB labels: look for “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)” on a game’s rating.[1] Our guide to ESRB ratings explains every label.
- Apple’s App Store: apps offering loot boxes or other randomized items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item before purchase.[5]
- Google Play: games with randomized items from a purchase, including loot boxes, must clearly disclose the odds before the purchase.[6]
Showing the odds helps, but kids rarely read them. The spending controls below do more.
How to Control Game Spending
| Platform | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Turn off purchases in your Nintendo Account, or add a set amount for your child to spend. There’s no dollar cap.[7] Switch guide |
| Xbox | Turn on Ask to Buy and add an allowance in the Xbox Family Settings app.[8] Xbox guide |
| PlayStation | Add funds, check balances and set a monthly spending limit in the PlayStation Family app.[9] |
| iPhone and iPad | Use Ask to Buy, so your child has to request purchases and downloads.[10] iPhone guide |
A few habits help too:
- Don’t save a card on your child’s account. A gift card or a set allowance caps what they can spend.
- Translate the currency. Show your child what a pack of coins costs in dollars, and what else that money could buy.
- Talk about the odds. Look up the odds for a loot box together. Seeing how rare the best item is can take the shine off.
- Check statements. Review your app store and console purchase history every month.
When Spending Becomes a Problem
Watch for a child who hides purchases, takes money or cards without asking, gets very upset after an unlucky pull, or can’t stop buying even after promising to. Those are signs that spending, and maybe gaming, has become hard to control. Our free Video Game Addiction Test is a good starting point, and some families have explored legal options over game design; see the video game addiction lawsuit page.
Take the 2-Minute Game Danger Check
Pick the game your child plays most and answer a few questions about chat, voice and spending. You’ll get a risk score and the settings to change. Start the Game Danger Check
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a loot box in a video game?
It’s a purchase, with real money or game currency bought with real money, where you don’t know exactly which item you’ll get.[1]
Are loot boxes gambling?
They work like gambling because the reward is random, and research has linked heavy loot box spending to problem gambling.[4]
How do I know if a game has loot boxes?
Look for “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)” in the game’s ESRB rating.[1]
Do games have to show loot box odds?
Apps on the App Store and Google Play must show the odds before purchase.[5][6]
How can I stop my child from buying loot boxes?
Turn off or limit purchases on each console and app store, don’t save a card on their account, and use gift cards or a set allowance instead.[7][8][9]
Related Guides
- ESRB Ratings Explained
- Nintendo Switch Parental Controls
- Xbox Parental Controls
- Is Fortnite Safe for Kids?
- Roblox Safety Guide
- Safe Video Games for Kids by Age
Sources
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). Ratings Guide.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (2020, April 13). Introducing a new interactive element: In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items).
- Federal Trade Commission. (2022, December 19). Fortnite video game maker Epic Games to pay more than half a billion dollars over FTC allegations of privacy violations and unwanted charges.
- 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.
- Apple. (n.d.). App Review Guidelines (section 3.1.1). Accessed October 4, 2026.
- Google. (n.d.). Payments. Play Console Help. Accessed October 4, 2026.
- Nintendo Support. (n.d.). Can I Set a Nintendo eShop Spending Limit for My Child? Accessed October 4, 2026.
- Xbox. (n.d.). Xbox Family Settings app. Accessed October 4, 2026.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment. (n.d.). Parental controls. PlayStation. Accessed October 4, 2026.
- Apple Support. (2026, September 14). Set up parental controls to manage your child’s iPhone or iPad.
About this information
Apple, Google, Fortnite and other product names mentioned on this page are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by those companies, and we use their names only to identify the products we discuss. This information reflects our understanding, based on public sources, as of the last update to this page.