WatchPhrase · Ages 9-20 · In use
loot box
A paid mystery box in a game. You don't know which item you'll get until you open it.
I opened three loot boxes and got nothing good.
For parents and educators
Loot boxes are not legally gambling in Canada, but psychologists compare them to a lottery machine. An Ontario survey found almost a quarter of students in grades 7 to 12 reported gambling while gaming, including buying loot boxes or betting skins.
If you’re worried
Set spending limits in the console or app store and talk about how random rewards are designed to keep you buying. If spending feels out of hand, your provincial health line can point you to gambling help.
Where it came from
Became common in big games in the mid-2010s.
Also heard as
loot boxes, loot crate, case opening, gacha