Colman Noctor: Children exposed to gambling through video game loot boxes 

Psychoactive behaviours such as gambling create a dopamine surge in the brain

Picture: iStock

Video game loot boxes are a growing cause of concern among parents and legislators.

Efforts to curtail or manage the issue of online gambling in children and teenagers have been outlined in an Oireachtas committee report this month. The report discusses how the advertising and strategies employed by gambling companies contribute to the development of problematic gambling habits among young people. This has given rise to a discussion on the use of loot boxes in video games played by children.