Lottery Mechanics in Video Games

Lottery and gaming mechanics have been used to enhance video games for decades. Over the past few years though, it’s become a major trend for gaming providers and gamers who love trying their luck.

It’s not just elements of the lottery in video games that are seeing a boost. Lotteries like the Virginia Lottery have grown in popularity and scope, with huge progressive jackpots. Take advantage of the latest VA lottery promo code to see for yourself how massive they’ve gotten and join in the excitement.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how lottery mechanics are enhancing video games these days and adding a new element of surprise and excitement.

Lottery in Gaming is Nothing New

If you’ve ever played Mario 3 on the original Nintendo console, then you’ll surely remember the mini-game where you have to match the pictures to gain either a mushroom, fire flower, or star. This slot-style game could win you extra lives if you matched up the images correctly.

Likewise, in Yoshi’s Island, there’s a roulette mini-game. Over the years since these classics came out, the concept of mini-games where the player can win prizes or gamble has become commonplace. What’s at stake could be in-game currency or credits, or real money. This can win players in-game prizes, such as player skins, tools, or weapons.

Loot Boxes Are All the Rage These Days

A loot box is an offering with unknown contents that can be bought on a platform or in-game through either real money or game credits. To gain game credits, players can buy them, earn them through in-game activities, or be given them through promos or P2P transactions.

Players can then use these credits or real money to purchase a loot box, tool crate, or whatever the name of the unknown prize box may be. The loot box can contain a random item or group of items, giving players the luck of the draw. Players typically buy these boxes hoping to win a big prize, like a very rare or valuable in-game asset.

In-game assets can usually be bought and sold on gaming forums, or sites like eBay. Some people actually make a good profit by selling the items they won in loot boxes or acquired in another way while playing the game.

A Brilliant Yet Controversial Way to Monetize

Gambling mechanics in gaming have exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry. Loot boxes have become extremely popular and profitable, and earned video game companies a fortune. But the problem lies in the fact that minors and even young children partake, which has experts worried. They claim that the gambling nature of loot boxes and other gambling mechanics in video games can create tendencies in children, and could pose serious issues.

That’s why legislation is being discussed or introduced in many countries around loot boxes in video games. Legislation will likely require an age limit of 18 or older to participate in the purchasing of loot boxes and some other micro-transactions in video games.

What’s Next for Lottery Mechanics in Video Games?

It’ll take some time for legislation on micro-transactions and loot boxes to catch up. And when it does, it’ll likely only apply to minors. Unless it gets classified as actual gambling, then it will be outlawed in all US states that don’t allow online gambling. This classification seems unlikely though considering what the majority of these transactions actually are.

Keep up with gaming news for updates and to hear what else is new in the world of online gaming.