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?
Addiction to gaming, as well as gambling is not really about the money being spent on the games, but more about the mind that have gotten used to either the gaming and gambling, so, I would say that the loss of money in either gaming or gambling due to addiction is nothing but collateral damage.
The real loss in the life of the player is his or her mind/brain which he or she has lost control over, this is what he or she is going to struggle very hard to gain control over again, and then the loss of money can then be controled as well.
Addiction to both gaming and gambling as almost like the same, it's like a two broad roads from different directions that lead to the same destination, that is, addiction to gaming and gambling both destroys the mind/brain, and causes the collateral damage which is the loss of money that should have been used for other important things in the victim's life.