Edge Hill University is set to investigate how gambling-like features in video games, such as microtransactions and loot boxes, influence primary school children, with a focus on neurodivergent pupils amid growing regulatory concerns.
Edge Hill University has secured more than £900,000 to lead a three-year study on how gambling-like features in video games affect primary school-aged children, in a project that comes as policymakers and campaigners intensify scrutiny of loot boxes. The research is due to begin in January 2027 and will examine how microtransactions and random reward systems shape children’s development, especially among neurodivergent pupils.
The project will be led by Dr John Shaw, a senior lecturer in psychology at Edge Hill, and will involve charities including YGam, Internet Matters and ADHD UK. In a press release, Shaw said that “loot boxes share psychological similarities with gambling and are linked with mental health difficulties in young people.” The university said the study will look at how engagement with these mechanics changes over time, which children are most vulnerable and whether the effects extend beyond spending into wider psychological outcomes.
Edge Hill said more than 90% of UK children aged five to 11 play video games, with one in three buying in-game items and spending an average of £26 a month. Shaw said children can face “coercive pressure” through limited-time offers, rarity and the social appeal of virtual goods. The university also warned that the risks may be greater for children with ADHD or autism, who may spend longer gaming.
The study lands amid wider pressure on the gaming industry. The UK government has said companies should do more to protect children from loot box harms, while the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned that the features can encourage gambling-like behaviour and excessive spending. Officials have already said there is a consistent link between loot box use and problem gambling, particularly among young people, and they have left open the possibility of tougher action if current safeguards are not enough.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
