I understand that with loot boxes in some video games, these items like skins, weapons, tools, among others, can be traded for real money. However, there are others that are equally addictive without any monetary benefit. On the other hand, with casinos, in general, you can win money 100% of the time. Therefore, these cases of addiction are not strictly related to money, but the loss of money would be more of a consequence. So, to what degree is money a stimulating factor in addictions?
Is the loss of money just collateral damage?
I'm not sure if they can be compared though, it's a different addiction as far a games as obviously as you have said, there is no monetary benefits. But most likely it's the bragging rights or even becoming a great players as compare to thousands of others who play the game. As compare to gambling itself, which is trying to test our luck with different games in order to win money. And gambling addicts are totally different kind though, it's their behavior and patterns that we can't really understand. Recently we have a thread about a addict you take out his own life after losing big money. I do not hear someone who will do that in some video games trade, or if the trade goes down, or if the players can't play.