Lets get some facts out of the way. They are not gambling.

Inarre

josiahva wrote: »

I agree with the OP here, aside from the technical definition...when you gamble you either win, or you lose the money invested...but with loot crates, you are GUARANTEED to get something. To be clear, I think 99% of the stuff in them is junk, but you are guaranteed to get something of the same value as something else you want. I mean, realistically speaking, a crown tri-potion is the EXACT SAME VALUE as a radiant apex mount...that is to say 0$. The only thing changing here is subjective, how much you want a given item. I just think the whole idea is stupid...but those that actually buy the things have no right to complain about what they get out of them.

If that were true and a tri potion is the same value as a mount why, in the gem exchange menu, do they cost drastically different prices to "buy"?

Okiir

Istoppucks wrote: »

1. play games of chance for MONEY; bet.
2. In the US that also add betting for things of value.

Things of value require the ability to sell the item for real money. Eso and most mmorpgs you cannot sell anything from the loot crates for real money therfore they have no value.

So what you saying is Loot Boxes are worse than gambling? Because with "real" gambling you at least get something of value.

In that case I agree with your conclusion; Loot Boxes are essentially gambling, but worse.

Syncronaut

josiahva wrote: »

I agree with the OP here, aside from the technical definition...when you gamble you either win, or you lose the money invested...but with loot crates, you are GUARANTEED to get something. To be clear, I think 99% of the stuff in them is junk, but you are guaranteed to get something of the same value as something else you want. I mean, realistically speaking, a crown tri-potion is the EXACT SAME VALUE as a radiant apex mount...that is to say 0$. The only thing changing here is subjective, how much you want a given item. I just think the whole idea is stupid...but those that actually buy the things have no right to complain about what they get out of them.

I can buy a ticket at a lottery store that always wins...even if its bare minimum.

Lets say i buy 10 tickets (1 euro each) and when i open them, i get 5 euro back.

Did i win? Or did i just lose?

Charliff1966

If people want the goverment to declare loot boxes as gambling, maybe goverments should start thinking about people paying tax over vitual items.

Wreuntzylla

Istoppucks wrote: »

I think its time to educate some on here.

Here are the FACTS Loot crates in most mmorpgs including eso are NOT gambling. In the real world FACTS are what matter not unhinged, uneducated emotions with a hint if bias, FACTS are what matter.

In most countries the LEGAL DEFINITION OF GAMBLE is:


gam·ble
ˈɡambəl/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: gambling
1. play games of chance for MONEY; bet.
2. In the US that also add betting for things of value.


Things of value require the ability to sell the item for real money. Eso and most mmorpgs you cannot sell anything from the loot crates for real money therfore they have no value.

Based on the legal definition of gambling multiple governments have come out and Stated loot boxes are not gambling .


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2017/12/16/16785474/loot-boxes-gambling-law-government-star-wars-battlefront-2

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk-gambling-commission-restates-that-loot-boxes-are-not-gambling/

So please stop with this loot boxes are gambling because they are not.

Love the legal analysis!!! While you are at it, go to your Lexisnexis portal and search for "secondary market." Then go search for "buy ESO account" and "buy ESO items."

Making crown store items bound is somewhat protective in some jurisdictions, but ZoS is definitely trading off risk for reward, especially in cases where crown store items are the same or similar to non-crate items available in the game, or where account sales are based on account bound crown store items.

The game companies were handed ways to get around the case decisions (and case law in common law jurisdictions), but it's only a matter of time before the law catches up with modern times. It's only about a 10yr lag... Of course, the lag is reduced post haste by volume complaints to the appropriate elected officials.

But let's get real for a moment. Not one person complaining in this forum is going to get up off their @#% and do anything but forum warrior.

Feanor

Okiir wrote: »

Istoppucks wrote: »

1. play games of chance for MONEY; bet.
2. In the US that also add betting for things of value.

Things of value require the ability to sell the item for real money. Eso and most mmorpgs you cannot sell anything from the loot crates for real money therfore they have no value.

So what you saying is Loot Boxes are worse than gambling? Because with "real" gambling you at least get something of value.

In that case I agree with your conclusion; Loot Boxes are essentially gambling, but worse.

In that case playing the game has no value at all, because it’s as virtual as the crown crates and will be shut down eventually. But would you say you didn’t get value for your money? No, of course you wouldn’t.

Eyro

Charliff1966 wrote: »

If people want the goverment to declare loot boxes as gambling, maybe goverments should start thinking about people paying tax over vitual items.

Some of us already are.

TamrielSaviour215

Syncronaut wrote: »

I can buy a ticket at a lottery store that always wins...even if its bare minimum.

Lets say i buy 10 tickets (1 euro each) and when i open them, i get 5 euro back.

Did i win? Or did i just lose?

To add to this...
I can buy a Powerball ticket in the US. It costs $2. If I buy ten thats $20. I might hit 3 numbers on one ticket. I did not win the JACKPOT but I won something. That is gambling. Just like the crates. I didnt get what I REALLY wanted, but they give me a piece to keep me coming back.

Anotherone773

TequilaFire wrote: »

Anotherone773 wrote: »

Here is another fact: getting rid of crates, which are best sellers in all games that have them will negatively affect your gameplay. The income from those are used to offset the rising cost of creating and maintaining games in which the players expect more for less.

These games are not cheap to run. This is not a SP game. MMOs have ongoing daily costs that can run tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars...thats PER DAY. That doesnt include development of new features.

Meanwhile players expect to have to pay less and less to play these games. They think The company is being predatory when it is just trying to make a profit providing a service to a bunch of people who think that service should be free.

One off items dont sell as well as crates. Because they are one and done per person who is interested. That means they have to put more effort into creating more items to sell. That is also how you end up with pay 2 win, required subs, $60-$80 chapters and literally every new feature behind a paywall.

This game has to cover an daily operating budget. Those crates allows those people who can afford to spend an extra $20,50,100 a month to cover the cost of that player that invest nothing but the original cost of the game. You know the one with pack mules because they dont have a sub, never buys anything out of the crown store.

So while you complain about how unfair those crates are because you cant get the mount you want... remember that the people that spend a lot of money on those crates, are paying for a lot of people who put very little money towards paying for the upkeep of this game.

Nothing is life is free. Just because one player gets to play for free doesnt mean it free. Someone else is covering his "free" for him and those crates are what does it.

No, they can still have a crown shop, just sell items that players want directly with out the crates.
If quality items people want are in the store they will still make money.

Your simply not getting it. A one off item doesnt sell as well as crates not even close. The profit margin on crates is much higher. This means less labor for more profit. If the devs have to keep creating items to sell in the store so they can make the numbers they need to, they spend less time working on other things like summerset. Or they can bundle a bunch of stuff together in a chance crate that appeals to multitudes of people and sell the same product over and over and over for 3 months while they work on that next dlc.

From a developer standpoint they are trying to provide what players want so they keep playing while also keeping the game from being in the red. Players make it hard to do both.

People dont need what is in those crates. Either pay the price for them or dont. But for every one person that complains about those crates here on the forums, there will be a hundred people that will happily buy them and not say a peep about it. Which group you think they are going to listen too? The hundred that are happily buying them or the one that is complaining?

Anotherone773

Wayshuba wrote: »

Istoppucks wrote: »

I question this approach. So we have a group of gamers who are now in favor of allowing the government to come in a regulate video games. These same governments have passes, created and talked about how video games cause violence.

These people are now in favor of opening the door for government to come in and do as they please with video games ? If you think they will stop at "gambling" good luck.

I would prefer they don't, but at this point this trend has to be stopped or mitigated. When companies like EA and Activision are making more than half their revenue from "loot crates" they have become nothing more than casinos.

More importantly, the industry itself cannot self-regulate itself. The ESRB already says a game that has gambling mechanics in it is gambling. Then they say that loot crates are not gambling. Right.

As someone who is over 50, how they are done doesn't bother me personally. As someone who also has a 12 year old son and seeing how they have effected him - absolutely I want this legislation passed.

As an aside, do you know why the ESRB was created? Because governments were in fact about to regulate video games because violence was being exposed to younger children. By copying the rating system of the movie industry, they helped to appease government regulators before laws were passed. Unfortunately, the same ESRB has failed miserably when it comes to loot crates.

Now you have a representative on a personal crusade - and gaining momentum - to pass legislation defining them as gambling and thus making the game carry an Adult Only rating. Government regulators on personal crusades to pass legislation usually succeed in the long run - at least in the US.

In 2003 the cost of your average AAA game was $60 and the cost of an average sub was $15. In 2018, the cost of an average AAA game is $60 and the cost of an average sub is $15. In 2003 you could make an AAA game for about $10 million. In 2018, the cost to make an AAA game is north of $50 million and can top $100 million. In 2003, it was far cheaper to run an AAA mmo than it is now.

See the problem? Players expect to pay 2003 prices while game companies costs have increased by hundreds of percent.

badmojo

Inarre wrote: »

josiahva wrote: »

I agree with the OP here, aside from the technical definition...when you gamble you either win, or you lose the money invested...but with loot crates, you are GUARANTEED to get something. To be clear, I think 99% of the stuff in them is junk, but you are guaranteed to get something of the same value as something else you want. I mean, realistically speaking, a crown tri-potion is the EXACT SAME VALUE as a radiant apex mount...that is to say 0$. The only thing changing here is subjective, how much you want a given item. I just think the whole idea is stupid...but those that actually buy the things have no right to complain about what they get out of them.

If that were true and a tri potion is the same value as a mount why, in the gem exchange menu, do they cost drastically different prices to "buy"?

Because ZOS wanted less mounts than tripots to exist in their virtual world.

Why do more Columbine drop than Atherial Dust? They both have the same value on the legal market(0$). ZOS wants everyone to get Columbine all the time, but the dust should be rare.

Why are luxury furnishings sometimes 100k gold while wooden planks are cheap....they are both just cosmetic items, they are both just ones and zeros on a server somewhere.

What are you suggesting? All mounts should cost 5gems? Why?

TamrielSaviour215

Anotherone773 wrote: »

People dont need what is in those crates. Either pay the price for them or dont. But for every one person that complains about those crates here on the forums, there will be a hundred people that will happily buy them and not say a peep about it. Which group you think they are going to listen too? The hundred that are happily buying them or the one that is complaining?

The thing is, its not about the people complaining anymore. Its about what could potentially be a law. Therefore they will HAVE to listen whether they want to or not.

Kodrac

I don't see how anyone can defend paying for a chance at random. You always end up paying more. From a consumer standpoint, and we're all consumers, how do you say that's ok?

heaven13

Anotherone773 wrote: »

TequilaFire wrote: »

Anotherone773 wrote: »

Here is another fact: getting rid of crates, which are best sellers in all games that have them will negatively affect your gameplay. The income from those are used to offset the rising cost of creating and maintaining games in which the players expect more for less.

These games are not cheap to run. This is not a SP game. MMOs have ongoing daily costs that can run tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars...thats PER DAY. That doesnt include development of new features.

Meanwhile players expect to have to pay less and less to play these games. They think The company is being predatory when it is just trying to make a profit providing a service to a bunch of people who think that service should be free.

One off items dont sell as well as crates. Because they are one and done per person who is interested. That means they have to put more effort into creating more items to sell. That is also how you end up with pay 2 win, required subs, $60-$80 chapters and literally every new feature behind a paywall.

This game has to cover an daily operating budget. Those crates allows those people who can afford to spend an extra $20,50,100 a month to cover the cost of that player that invest nothing but the original cost of the game. You know the one with pack mules because they dont have a sub, never buys anything out of the crown store.

So while you complain about how unfair those crates are because you cant get the mount you want... remember that the people that spend a lot of money on those crates, are paying for a lot of people who put very little money towards paying for the upkeep of this game.

Nothing is life is free. Just because one player gets to play for free doesnt mean it free. Someone else is covering his "free" for him and those crates are what does it.

No, they can still have a crown shop, just sell items that players want directly with out the crates.
If quality items people want are in the store they will still make money.

Your simply not getting it. A one off item doesnt sell as well as crates not even close. The profit margin on crates is much higher. This means less labor for more profit. If the devs have to keep creating items to sell in the store so they can make the numbers they need to, they spend less time working on other things like summerset. Or they can bundle a bunch of stuff together in a chance crate that appeals to multitudes of people and sell the same product over and over and over for 3 months while they work on that next dlc.

From a developer standpoint they are trying to provide what players want so they keep playing while also keeping the game from being in the red. Players make it hard to do both.

People dont need what is in those crates. Either pay the price for them or dont. But for every one person that complains about those crates here on the forums, there will be a hundred people that will happily buy them and not say a peep about it. Which group you think they are going to listen too? The hundred that are happily buying them or the one that is complaining?

Or they could stop pulling stuff out of the store and leave stuff up for longer so that new players (to whom appear to be their most marketed audience) can actually buy stuff. So yes, once you have it, you have it. But if you're constantly bringing in new players, you're still able to sell to new consumers.

And crates don't sell better than one-offs because people like them more. They sell better because, in most cases, it's the ONLY way to get the item and the chance is so low that they're basically forced into becoming a better seller.

For the bolded part...what is the price? No one knows because it's RNG. You can't say "pay the price" for what is in the crates because there isn't a fixed price.

Prof_Bawbag

Your posting style kind of reminds me when Bioware devs were outed on certain sites. You seem to have an unhealthy obsession with laying into your fellow consumers about everything that is deemed negative about this game. People called others paranoid and scoffed at them when those overly defensive users began to surface regarding BioWare. Sometimes it really is a good idea to stand with your fellow consumers on at least something. You just seem to put too much effort into discrediting everyone that doesn't just lie down and accept everything ZoS delve out.

Kikke

loot boxes in ESO is not gambling, you buy a chance for an item. not gambling.....

Merlin13KAGL

TequilaFire wrote: »

Istoppucks wrote: »

TequilaFire wrote: »

US Legal defines gambling as following:

"A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. "

A legal definition and a dictionary definition are quite different things.

Loot crate items cant be sold and have no value.

The crowns you bought the loot crates for are purchased with money therefore have value and you risk them on the contents of the crates. What you risk is the crowns purchased with money.

You argument is that an item has to be salable to have value? This would imply that all salable items inherently have value.

I can sell a pile of mud to someone willing to buy for a cool $1 million. It doesn't suddenly make it worth $1 million, realistically.

People don't get to arbitrarily decide an items value. @Istoppucks , you realize that's why we use currency and not clamshells or cobblestones, right? it provides a common exchange rate.

I equally don't get to inherit a Ferarri and claim its value as $10 when the IRS comes calling, simply because I have arbitrarily decided that's what I want it to be worth to me.

In a third example, that same Ferarri becomes pretty useless if I find myself in a survival scenario or the classic "stranded on a desert island" scenario.

It's why there is a currency value placed on it, so there is no ambiguity to be had.

Per your own definition, Crates have value (they're obviously sold to customers.). The reason they have value is due to the contents - again, no one buys crates just to have crates on their account, never to open them.

Since that value is variable and subject to chance, it still fits the definition.

badmojo wrote: »

The contents of crown crates have no value.

How much does a radiant apex go for on the open market? Oh right, you cant sell it unless you violate the games terms of service and risk a ban by selling your account on the blackmarket.

Collectable cards (hockey, pokemon, mtg, etc) have real value because you can sell them on the open market, and they also get sold to customers in mystery packs which have a chance to contain great cards or bad cards. They have been around for decades, sold to children, and are still not legally considered gambling.

The videogame Rust has a bit of chance involved in it. When you purchase a copy of that game you are assigned a character with a gender, skin color, and hair based on an algorithm. You might dislike the character you just paid real money for, does that mean you were gambling and lost? Is that any different than getting an item you dislike in a crown crate? You purchased digital goods, you recieved digital goods, the fact that those goods arent exactly what you wanted doesnt make it gambling because you were informed that the items would be selected from a large pool of digital goods.

Impressively bad example.

The algorithm that defines your character is based on your Steam ID. It has exactly nothing to do with RNG.

Prof_Bawbag

kikkehs wrote: »

loot boxes in ESO is not gambling, you buy a chance for an item. not gambling.....

Whilst i agree with the sentiment behind your comment, we actually win nothing from loot boxes, not a single thing. A prize has to be tangible or at least something that can be exchanged for a tangible item. Something made from fresh air isn't a tangible item. Even if you scoop 5 apex mounts in a single crate, you've actually won as much as a person who got 4 lots of health pots from their crate.

Toast_STS

It's not gambling. It's more like buying lipstick. At least that's all I've gotten out of the boxes.

Turelus

Toast_STS wrote: »

It's not gambling. It's more like buying lipstick. At least that's all I've gotten out of the boxes.

Yeah, but at least when you buy lipstick IRL you get to choose the colour yourself.

Rain_Greyraven

Turelus wrote: »

I think the most confusing thing in this thread is why the two people fighting like crazy to prove they're not gambling care so much.

Also I am most confused why people always fight to defend a system which is clearly less consumer friendly than the alternatives.

Yes why can't everyone just agree with the perpetually outraged.... :-/

Have you ever considered that many players have no issue with the current business model and a lot of them are getting tired of the hate /whispers in game because of what they are riding, or that they are really done with getting called "whale'" "evil" "corrupt" "White Knight" etc etc because they simply want to discuss whats in a upcoming set of crates without being harassed?

And lets face it the community management defends the perpetually outraged, promotes them to community ambassadors and nine times out of ten shadow bans or silences the people who actually supports their business model because they take issue with being called names on the forums and harassed in game.

But it's all academic at this point, I doubt this post will stay around long, it will be shadow deleted along with all the others that dares question the In clique.

Heka Cain

You have nothing to say and you are saying it way too loudly!

inthecoconut

Istoppucks wrote: »

I think its time to educate some on here.

In most countries the LEGAL DEFINITION OF GAMBLE is:


gam·ble
ˈɡambəl/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: gambling
1. play games of chance for MONEY; bet.
2. In the US that also add betting for things of value.

So what you are actually saying is that loot boxes are WORSE than gambling, because I bet money on a chance, but unlike gambling I don't have a chance of getting money back and instead get pixels. I couldn't agree with you more OP, good work.

TequilaFire

Merlin13KAGL wrote: »

TequilaFire wrote: »

Istoppucks wrote: »

TequilaFire wrote: »

US Legal defines gambling as following:

"A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. "

A legal definition and a dictionary definition are quite different things.

Loot crate items cant be sold and have no value.

The crowns you bought the loot crates for are purchased with money therefore have value and you risk them on the contents of the crates. What you risk is the crowns purchased with money.

You argument is that an item has to be salable to have value? This would imply that all salable items inherently have value.

I can sell a pile of mud to someone willing to buy for a cool $1 million. It doesn't suddenly make it worth $1 million, realistically.

People don't get to arbitrarily decide an items value. @Istoppucks , you realize that's why we use currency and not clamshells or cobblestones, right? it provides a common exchange rate.

I equally don't get to inherit a Ferarri and claim its value as $10 when the IRS comes calling, simply because I have arbitrarily decided that's what I want it to be worth to me.

In a third example, that same Ferarri becomes pretty useless if I find myself in a survival scenario or the classic "stranded on a desert island" scenario.

It's why there is a currency value placed on it, so there is no ambiguity to be had.

Per your own definition, Crates have value (they're obviously sold to customers.). The reason they have value is due to the contents - again, no one buys crates just to have crates on their account, never to open them.

Since that value is variable and subject to chance, it still fits the definition.

badmojo wrote: »

The contents of crown crates have no value.

How much does a radiant apex go for on the open market? Oh right, you cant sell it unless you violate the games terms of service and risk a ban by selling your account on the blackmarket.

Collectable cards (hockey, pokemon, mtg, etc) have real value because you can sell them on the open market, and they also get sold to customers in mystery packs which have a chance to contain great cards or bad cards. They have been around for decades, sold to children, and are still not legally considered gambling.

The videogame Rust has a bit of chance involved in it. When you purchase a copy of that game you are assigned a character with a gender, skin color, and hair based on an algorithm. You might dislike the character you just paid real money for, does that mean you were gambling and lost? Is that any different than getting an item you dislike in a crown crate? You purchased digital goods, you recieved digital goods, the fact that those goods arent exactly what you wanted doesnt make it gambling because you were informed that the items would be selected from a large pool of digital goods.

Impressively bad example.

The algorithm that defines your character is based on your Steam ID. It has exactly nothing to do with RNG.

Reading comprehension - Crowns have value as cyber currency purchased with real life money so therefore are at risk per definition of gambling.

On another note Vanilla Software is horrible at handling nested quotes.

badmojo

Kodrac wrote: »

I don't see how anyone can defend paying for a chance at random. You always end up paying more. From a consumer standpoint, and we're all consumers, how do you say that's ok?

I don't see how lumping crown crates in with gambling is going to do anything but divide us into groups of people who agree or disagree with that. The thing is those groups arent the same as the people who like and dislike the crown crate system.

Its kind of like sticking up for the freespeech rights of racists, people might dispise what is being said, but they will defend someones right to say it.

I have my issues with the crown crate system, but I refuse to call it gambling, because I honest dont believe it is gambling when it comes to the law.

At the same time somebody else might really like the crown crates but thinks it falls under the legal definition of gambling.

If I support free speech, am I defending racism? Its an important distinction.

dotme

I don't care what it's called. ZOS should be up front about the odds, that's all. Anyone buying a "chance" to obtain something should be informed what their chances are. Transparency isn't difficult, and IMHO it's ethical.

klowdy1

There are two arguments on this. One is about the gambling nature, and that people think its shady. The other is about how people want the items in the store individually. I'm confused how it's ok to spend $100 on a house, but people get up in arms about others spending the 1500 crowns from the ESO+ on crates. It may be guaranteed, but I see it as a huge waste of money.

Why shouldn't my opinion also affect those people buying every single house this game has to offer, furnishings and all, when other people feel their opinion should affect others' ability to spend money how THEY want? I see it as spending your money as you see fit, and it's none of my business, despite my opinion. Everyone needs to leave others' spending habits alone. The people buying the crates aren't out trying to convince everyone else to buy them. The people against them need to give the same respect.

jerj6925

Istoppucks wrote: »

I think its time to educate some on here.

Here are the FACTS Loot crates in most mmorpgs including eso are NOT gambling. In the real world FACTS are what matter not unhinged, uneducated emotions with a hint if bias, FACTS are what matter.

In most countries the LEGAL DEFINITION OF GAMBLE is:


gam·ble
ˈɡambəl/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: gambling
1. play games of chance for MONEY; bet.
2. In the US that also add betting for things of value.


Things of value require the ability to sell the item for real money. Eso and most mmorpgs you cannot sell anything from the loot crates for real money therfore they have no value.

Based on the legal definition of gambling multiple governments have come out and Stated loot boxes are not gambling .


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2017/12/16/16785474/loot-boxes-gambling-law-government-star-wars-battlefront-2

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk-gambling-commission-restates-that-loot-boxes-are-not-gambling/

So please stop with this loot boxes are gambling because they are not.

You couldn't be more wrong if you broke a sweat trying.

NoTimeToWait

Istoppucks wrote: »

I think its time to educate some on here.

Here are the FACTS Loot crates in most mmorpgs including eso are NOT gambling. In the real world FACTS are what matter not unhinged, uneducated emotions with a hint if bias, FACTS are what matter.

In most countries the LEGAL DEFINITION OF GAMBLE is:


gam·ble
ˈɡambəl/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: gambling
1. play games of chance for MONEY; bet.
2. In the US that also add betting for things of value.


Things of value require the ability to sell the item for real money. Eso and most mmorpgs you cannot sell anything from the loot crates for real money therfore they have no value.

Based on the legal definition of gambling multiple governments have come out and Stated loot boxes are not gambling .


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2017/12/16/16785474/loot-boxes-gambling-law-government-star-wars-battlefront-2

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk-gambling-commission-restates-that-loot-boxes-are-not-gambling/

So please stop with this loot boxes are gambling because they are not.

I wonder why people even defend such marketing techniques as Crown Crates? Do they find them more enjoyable than just buying the thing you want directly? Do they think that the ESO would sink without CrownCrates, that microtransactions and eso+ is not enough for ZOS to pay the bills? Do they think they get other content cheaper that way (which I again, doubt, in comparison to transactions). Or what is the reason?

I just don't see any benefits to Crown Crates compared to microtransactions (which is also a horrible technique, but well, it is now game industry new normal) from players' point of view.

The only thing that I see, why people may defend this system is because they are addicted to it on some level (which is the whole point of gambling)

Juju_beans

It's not gambling because every loot box contains something. You don't get empty loot boxes.