Loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2 are extremely profitable for Valve, but there’s a huge catch with a big problem: loot boxes resemble slot machines. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Loot boxes

A recent exposé from YouTube influencer Coffeezilla shows that underage gambling is rampant on Counter-Strike 2, the most played game on Steam, both of which are owned by video game behemoth Valve. The problem comes from loot boxes, a consumable virtual item that grants players random virtual items, i.e. “loot,” which range from customizable items to game-changing equipment.

same techniques as casinos to motivate the same behavior as those who play slots

Loot boxes are extremely profitable for Valve, but there’s a huge catch with a big problem: loot boxes resemble slot machines. An experimental psychologist at Valve says they use the same techniques as casinos to motivate the same behavior as those who play slots, that is, to spend more money on gambling-like behavior. But while Valve created a mechanism that looks like gambling, the company insists it is nothing of the sort.

Valve has chosen not to patch or even acknowledge the problem because doing so would require them to acknowledge that loot boxes are closely aligned with slot machines.

Valve’s gambling problem

Coffeezilla asks: “Why does Valve say they want to shut down gambling but fail to actually do it?” Some believe that it isn’t possible for Valve to do so.

He offers two thoughts as to why: 1) Valve suggests they must first defeat evil offshore casinos before they can tackle mainland gambling, and 2) Shutting down offshore gambling hasn’t happened because offshore gambling is so profitable for Valve.

A workaround in France seems to solve the problem, but the solution is deceptive. A patch allows players to see what is inside a loot box before opening it, but the player still must pay for that loot box before they’re allowed to open another. So, it is still effectively gambling; it is just gambling on the loot box after this one.

Pressure on Valve to address the issues has gone without response, except for Valve claiming it does not have the data to investigate the issue. Coffezilla says that anytime a company with as much consumer data as Valve normally says it has claims it doesn’t have data on consumer gambling behavior, the logical conclusion is that it has the data but doesn’t want to publicize the conclusions.