Do gamblers and loot boxers share similar fallacies of thought? A comparative analysis of Cognitive Biases

Abstract

Abstract Cognitive biases have been associated with the beginning and maintenance of addictive behaviours. While these biases have been widely studied in gambling, they have not been sufficiently explored in loot boxes (LBs), a new phenomenon that shares similar mechanisms. The present study aimed to compare cognitive biases (illusion of control, predictive control, interpretative biases, gambling-related expectancies and the perceived inability to stop gambling) in gamblers, LB purchasers, free-LB openers, and a control group. For this aim, 279 participants completed a self-report composed of ad-hoc questions and standardised measures. The results showed no differences between gamblers, LB purchasers and LB openers on illusion of control and predictive control. In contrast to LB openers, gamblers and LB purchasers obtained statistically similar scored on interpretative biases, gambling-related expectancies and the total score of the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS). Only gamblers experienced a higher perceived inability to stop gambling. Moreover, gamblers, LB purchasers and LB openers scored higher on all biases compared to the control group. When the overlap between the groups was controlled, gamblers and loot boxers shared all cognitive biases but the perceived inability to stop gambling; and scored statistically higher than the control group in all cognitive biases except for the illusion of control. The study provides additional evidence of the relationship between gambling and LB consumption.