ABSTRACT
This study offers gamers’ insights to a worldwide popular loot-box game that is widely associated with gambling: FIFA. Through an ethical lens, this study looks at how gamers perceive loot-box promotions, their enduring attitudes toward the game, as well as the role of gaming addictions. A mixed-method study revealed that while gamers found loot boxes and promotions ethically questionable, gaming addiction is positively correlated with perceived ad ethicality, suggesting coping and possible cognitive dissonance.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express their gratitude to @FUT_Accountant and @Shady_Inc for their support in disseminating the message of our research among their constituents.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Data availability statement
The dataset for both the focus group and interview is stored on OSF and can be found at: https://osf.io/tbjdz/?view_only=2b55b7435940428b8bc54407975c12b6