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Is There a Dark Side to Gacha Gaming?

The Japanese craze of gacha is worldwide. But is this seemingly harmless tradition a gateway to gambling addiction? Read on as we discuss the similarities.

Gacha games and online casinos share several similarities. From slots to wheel spins, how close do these innocent games run to the world of online casinos?

Gacha games originated in Japan and were vending machines that released small toys. Since then, their random drops have been incorporated into digital and online games. Similar to lootboxes, they have been criticised as a form of gambling aimed at minors. But how close do the links run, and what evidence backs this up?

What are Gacha Games?

Gacha games have a long history, and it is hard to pin down a specific meaning. Generally, it is any game that has an element of random reward based on luck as opposed to skill within it. Players will exchange in-game currencies to take part in a mini game, which will be very similar to a casino title. It may be a roulette wheel-style spin or a slot game reel. This then yields a reward, usually something that can be used or collected in the game. It may be a card, coins, skins, or other items.

The items that are dropped will each have levels of scarcity attached. So, in one title, most people may get coins from their drops, while a small percentage could get cards, with even those being rarer than others.

The term gacha comes from the Japanese 'Gachapon' machines. These are vending machines that release small toys housed in capsules. They became popular in the post-war period and have now become cult collectables, with some rarer ones commanding high sums. Created by the gaming giant Bandai, they are now trademarked around the world. The term gachapon is used quite frequently, especially to describe a similar mechanic in other games.

These games are now popular across Asia, and as online casino use has risen, so has gacha gaming. It is now easy to read about the best online casinos in Hong Kong, which provide games such as roulette and slots that have been employed by gacha mechanics. The main difference here is that play is for cash payouts, not gifts. While you can get bonuses for signing up, they are generally credits and not in-game assets.

How Are Gacha Games and Online Gambling Similar?

When using Gachapon machines, the concept is quite innocent. People place money and get a random toy. It is in the digital age that the concept sails extremely close to online gambling, and thus, criticism.

With this, random rewards can have extreme value. With so many people playing games in online multiplayer scenarios, competition for these items is bigger. With increased desire and often monetary value attached, the risk and reward become higher.

Gacha games use very similar mechanics to some of the most famous casino table games: Either rewarding through the use of slot games or roulette wheels. The comparisons here are obvious, and though the games are not giving out actual cash rewards, they are providing something of value. But only in certain instances. Thus, this is similar to a win or payout, and brings all the rush of endorphins and thrill seeking that gambling may do.

Are Gacha and Loot Boxes the Same?

Gacha games and lootboxes do have similarities. That automatically means they will draw comparisons to online gambling games. While there have been no major studies into the impact of gacha games and gambling, there have been several studies to show links between loot box use and dangerous gambling.

A lootbox is a random in-game drop. They generally come in crates and contain items like skins, weapons, collectables, and power-ups. They can also be purchased, and some rare items in them, like skins, can command extremely high amounts of money. For example, a simple blue party hat in the game Runescape, given out at a holiday event some time ago, can now cost over $4,000. This makes the desirability of these rare items more than just in-game items. They become items that are worth actual value in the real world.

A recent study in Sweden looked into the use of lootboxes and their impact on gambling. Around 87% of males who bought lootboxes before the age of 15 exhibited risky gambling behaviours. Of those who had bought lootboxes before the age of 18, 62% had gambled online for money while underage. Some participants bought their first lootboxes as young as seven years old.

There is very little to separate lootboxes and gacha gaming, except for the context they are placed in. Gacha gaming is typically linked to Japanese and Asian culture. Thus, it is found in strategy games and those that generally use anime-style graphics. Lootboxes tend to appear in first-person shooters and action games.

There are obvious parallels to the two. However, it may be that the danger lies not in the game mechanic itself, but in the value being placed on the items. These elements have been inherent in games for some time. Even Mario in the 80s had random rewards after a stage. Now, the payout is monetary and can be used outside the game, and perhaps this is the issue that needs fixing.