Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
This research explores the sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of monetary engagement (eg, microtransactions) in Free-to Play (F2P) gaming and how this engagement relates to gambling risk and harm.
It includes surveys of 4,180 adults who were categorised into three groups:
- those who gambled for money online but did not participate in F2P games (66.3% of the sample)
- those who participated in F2P gaming and spent money on microtransactions but who did not gamble online (5.3% of the sample)
- those who gambled for money online and played F2P games and spent money on microtransactions (28.4% of the sample).
Twenty-eight percent of the 4,180 participants were in the latter group (mixed gamblers/gamers). This group reported they participated in online gambling more than F2P gaming, suggesting that online gambling should remain the priority to reduce harm. However, the study shows that mixed gamblers/gamers exhibit behaviours that increase the risk of becoming a moderate risk/problem gambler/gamer with an increased risk of harm compared to those in groups 1 or 2.
Despite the increasing convergence between gambling and F2P gaming, major harm minimisation efforts have not included F2P gaming. This study has identified that harm minimisation and prevention efforts should be targeted not only to people who gamble but also focus on those gamblers who participate in F2P gaming and spend money in those games on generic microtransactions and, more specifically, on loot boxes given their potential relationship with a migration to gambling behaviours.
Furthermore, additional focus must remain on Māori, Pacific and Asian populations as well as younger adults who are disproportionately affected by F2P gaming harms as well as gambling harms.
