Welcome to the latest "Let’s Hae a Wee Blether Aboot Gambling in Scotland" podcast, brought to you by Fast Forward’s Scottish Gambling Education Hub.

In this episode, we look into the fascinating, yet at times, challenging world of Loot Boxes within games. We do this firstly, in the company of Dr Leon Xiao (University of Copenhagen) and Dr Elena Petrovskaya (University of Bristol). Both Leon and Elena work extensively in the area of gaming with a real focus on loot boxes and microtransactions.

In the second part, we chat to Emma Williamson from Wishaw YMCA about their innovative E-sports academy and how online safety and loot boxes have been built into the very heart of this programme.

Listener discretion is advised as we will be talking about some potentially triggering topics.  This podcast discusses various issues around gambling. If you are worried about, or affected by the gambling of someone close to you, please know that you are not alone and confidential support is available.

The following links are designed to provide signposting to further support available: 

• The National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133Part of the National Gambling Support Network National Gambling Support Network | BeGambleAware Advisers are trained to support people affected by the gambling of someone close to them
• Gordon Moody https://gordonmoody.org.uk 
• GamFam Home - GamFam Peer support for anyone affected by the gambling of someone close to you
• GAMSTOP: Gambling self-exclusion scheme https://www.gamstop.co.uk/
• Gamban: Block access to gambling on your devices https://gamban.com/
• RCA Trust Gambling Treatment and Support Provider https://www.rcatrust.org.uk/
• Papyrus Youth Suicide Charity https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
• www.parentzone.org.uk- resources, tools and information on the online world 
• Internet Matters www.internetmatter.org  
• Young Minds https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/gaming/
• NSPCC https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/
• A video explaining Loot Boxes (from Leon Xiao) https://biteable.com/watch/3818355/363b01ccaefdd94d2fcab3c6f343951d