Academic Publications

Articles and Communications in Peer-Reviewed Journals, Conferences, and Books

1. Xiao, L. Y., & Brooks, G.A. (2025). Loot boxes and other gambling-like products inside video games. In A. Nogueira López, J. Billieux, A. Rial Boubeta, & F. Pascual (Eds.), [Forthcoming Non-Substance Addiction Handbook]. [Forthcoming]. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/c6xsn

2. Thorhauge, A. M., Nielsen, D., Stouge, K. S., Jensen, C. H., Mathiesen, K. J., & Xiao, L. (2025). Steam: Skin trading and the Steam platform as a global market infrastructure. In A. Shaw (Ed.), [Forthcoming book]. [Forthcoming].

3. Xiao, L.Y., & Lund, M. (2025). Non-compliance with and non-enforcement of UK loot box industry self-regulation on the Apple App Store: A longitudinal study on poor implementation. Royal Society Open Science, 12(_), Article 250704. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.250704 [Forthcoming]. Postprint: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/xmwgy

4. Newall, P., Weiss-Cohen, L., Petrovskaya, E., Torrance, J., Palmer, M., & Xiao, L.Y. (2025). “99% of gamblers lose in the long run”: An experimental comparison of novel and pre-existing safer gambling messages. Collabra: Psychology, _(_), Article _. [Forthcoming]. Preprint: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/9ngkm

5. Xiao, L.Y., Ballou, N., & Eben, C. (2025). Fundamental flaws in the design and reporting of Chew and Neo (2024). Trends in Psychology, _(_), _–_. [Forthcoming]. Preprint: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/yud2x

6. Heath C., Torrance, J., Xiao, L. Y., & Newall, P. (2025). Loopholes and logos: How ‘decoy brands’ perpetuate gambling advertising in Italian football. Journal of Gambling Issues, _(_), _–_. http://doi.org/10.4309/MLHD3076

7. Xiao, L.Y. (2024). Illegal loot box advertising on social media? An empirical study using the Meta and TikTok ad transparency repositories. Computer Law & Security Review, 56, Article 106069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2024.106069. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/s92j3

8. Xiao, L.Y. (2024). Mainland China’s 2021 restrictions on under-18s’ video game time were imposed when older 2019 restrictions already applied: Omitting the historical regulatory context is misleading • Commentary on: Compliance and alternative behaviors of heavy gamers in adolescents to Chinese online gaming restriction policy (Zhou et al., 2024). Journal of Behavioral Addictions, _(_), _–_. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2024.00061. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/t9m8g

9. Xiao, L.Y., & Henderson, L.L. (2024). Illegal video game loot boxes with transferable content on Steam: a longitudinal study on their presence and non-compliance with and non-enforcement of gambling law. International Gambling Studies, 24(3), 498–524. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2024.2390827. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/taes2

10. Xiao, L.Y. (2024). LOOT BOX STATE OF PLAY 2023: LAW, REGULATION, POLICY, AND ENFORCEMENT AROUND THE WORLD. Gaming Law Review, 28(10), 443–514. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2024.0006. Stanford-Vienna TTLF Working Paper No. 110: https://law.stanford.edu/publications/no-110-loot-box-state-of-play-2023-law-regulation-policy-and-enforcement-around-the-world/

11. Xiao, L.Y. (2024, June 5–7). Is loot box presence in video games being correctly and consistently labelled? Comparing all age rating decisions made by the German USK, the American ESRB, and the European PEGI in 2023. 2024 IEEE Gaming, Entertainment, and Media Conference (GEM), Turin, Italy. https://doi.org/10.1109/GEM61861.2024.10585443 [$]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/765zb

12. Xiao, L.Y. (2023). Opening the compliance and enforcement loot box: A retrospective on some practice and policy impacts achieved through academic research. Societal Impacts, 1(1–2), Article 100018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socimp.2023.100018. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/vjmf5

13. Newall, P., [57 other authors], Xiao, L.Y.,  [3 other authors], & Roberts, A. (2023). ‘No evidence of harm’ implies no evidence of safety: Framing the lack of causal evidence in gambling advertising research. Addiction, 119(2), 391–396. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16369 [$]

14. Xiao, L.Y., Newall, P., & James, R.J.E. (2023). To screen, or not to screen: An experimental comparison of two methods for correlating video game loot box expenditure and problem gambling severity. Computers in Human Behavior, 151, Article 108019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.108019. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/cefnv

15. Park, S., Denoo, M., Grosemans, E., Petrovskaya, E., Jin, Y., & Xiao, L.Y. (2023, October 3–6). Learnings From The Case of Maple Refugees: A Story of Loot Boxes, Probability Disclosures, and Gamer Consumer Activism. In Mindtrek '23: Proceedings of the 26th International Academic Mindtrek Conference. Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 267–278. https://doi.org/10.1145/3616961.3616963.

16. Xiao, L.Y. (2023). Shopping around for loot box presence warning labels: Unsatisfactory compliance on Epic, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft platforms. ACM Games: Research and Practice, 1(4), Article 25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3630631. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/sbtcf

17. Xiao, L.Y., & Declerck, P. (2023). PAID VIDEO GAME LOOT BOXES ARE NOT GAMBLING UNDER DUTCH GAMBLING REGULATION? SHIFTING THE GOALPOST IN ELECTRONIC ARTS V. KANSSPELAUTORITEIT. Gaming Law Review, 27(9), 445–459. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2023.0020 [$]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/pz24d

18. Xiao, L.Y., Henderson, L.L., & Newall, P.W.S. (2023). What are the odds? Poor compliance with UK loot box probability disclosure industry self-regulation. PLOS ONE, 18(9), Article e0286681. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286681 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/g5wd9

19. Xiao, L.Y., Fraser, T.C., Nielsen, R.K.L., & Newall, P.W.S. (2023). Loot boxes, gambling-related risk factors, and mental health in Mainland China: A large-scale survey. Addictive Behaviors, 148, Article 107860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107860 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/uerb7

20. Zendle, D., Flick, C., Petrovskaya, E., Ballou, N., Xiao, L.Y., & Drachen, A. (2023). No evidence that Chinese playtime mandates reduced heavy gaming in one segment of the video games industry. Nature Human Behaviour, 7(10), 1753–1766. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01669-8 [Open Access].

21. Xiao, L.Y. (2023, June 19–23). What’s a Mini-Game? The Anatomy of Fishing Mini-Games. Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) 2023 International Conference (DiGRA 2023), Sevilla, Spain. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/4g9ku; http://digra.org:9998/DiGRA_2023_CR_2174.pdf

22. Xiao, L.Y. (2023). Beneath the label: unsatisfactory compliance with ESRB, PEGI, and IARC industry self-regulation requiring loot box presence warning labels by video game companies. Royal Society Open Science, 10(3), Article 230270. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230270 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/asbcg. Stanford-Vienna TTLF Working Paper No. 100: https://law.stanford.edu/publications/no-100-loot-box-presence-warnings-in-europe-and-north-america-a-comparative-transatlantic-perspective-on-compliance/

23. Xiao, L.Y. (2023). Debate: Academics should collaborate with the technology industry, but not in lieu of non-collaborative research. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 28(2), 338–340. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12644 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/hdp9z.

24. Xiao, L.Y. (2023). Breaking Ban: Belgium’s Ineffective Gambling Law Regulation of Video Game Loot Boxes. Collabra: Psychology, 9(1), Article 57641. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.57641 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/hnd7w.

25. Andrade, M., Sharman, S., Xiao, L.Y., & Newall, P.W.S. (2022). Safer Gambling and Consumer Protection Failings Among 40 Frequently Visited Cryptocurrency-Based Online Gambling Operators. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 37(3), 545–557. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000885 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/fgxrb.

26. Xiao, L.Y., Fraser, T.C. & Newall, P.W.S. (2022). Opening Pandora’s Loot Box: Weak Links Between Gambling and Loot Box Expenditure in China, and Player Opinions on Probability Disclosures and Pity-Timers. Journal of Gambling Studies, 39(2), 645–668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-022-10148-0 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/837dv.

27. Xiao, L.Y., Henderson, L.L., Nielsen, R.K.L., & Newall, P.W.S. (2022). Regulating gambling-like video game loot boxes: a public health framework comparing industry self-regulation, existing national legal approaches, and other potential approaches. Current Addiction Reports, 9(3), 163–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-022-00424-9 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/r5mjt.

28. Xiao, L.Y. (2022). Drafting video game loot box regulation for dummies: a Chinese lesson. Information & Communications Technology Law, 31(3), 343–381. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600834.2022.2088062 [Open Access].

29. Xiao, L.Y. (2022). BLIND BOXES: OPENING OUR EYES TO THE CHALLENGING REGULATION OF GAMBLING-LIKE PRODUCTS AND GAMBLIFICATION AND UNEXPLAINED REGULATORY INACTION. Gaming Law Review, 26(5), 255–268. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2022.0012 [$]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/c6epr.

30. Xiao, L.Y. (2022). Reserve your judgment on “Draconian” Chinese video gaming restrictions on children • Commentary on: Draconian policy measures are unlikely to prevent disordered gaming (Colder Carras et al., 2021). Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 11(2), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2022.00022 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/4583f

31. Xiao, L.Y., & Newall, P.W.S. (2022). Probability disclosures are not enough: Reducing loot box reward complexity as a part of ethical video game design. Journal of Gambling Issues, 50(1), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.4309/LDOM8890 [Open Access]. Postprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nuksd.

32. Xiao, L.Y. (2022, April 20–23). Towards Reproducibility in Game Analysis: Some Reflections on the Study Design and Methodology of Loot Box Prevalence Studies. The Game Studies Journal and the Making Sense of Games (MSG) Project Game Analysis Perspectives (GAP) Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark. (Proceedings, pp 34–39: https://blogit.itu.dk/msgproject/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2022/04/conference-proceedings.pdf)

33. Xiao, L.Y., Henderson, L.L., & Newall, P.W.S. (2022). Loot Boxes are more prevalent in United Kingdom video games than previously considered: Updating Zendle et al. (2020). Addiction, 117(9), 2553–2555. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15829. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/crsud.

34. Newall, P.W.S., & Xiao, L.Y. (2021). Gambling Marketing Bans In Professional Sports Neglect the Risks Posed by Financial Trading Apps and Cryptocurrencies. Gaming Law Review, 25(9), 376–378. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2021.0027. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/r359q.

35. Xiao, L.Y. (2021). People’s Republic of China Legal Update: The Notice on Further Strictly Regulating and Effectively Preventing Online Video Gaming Addiction in Minors (Published August 30, 2021, Effective September 1, 2021). Gaming Law Review, 25(9), 379–382. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2021.0026 [$]. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/4fua8.

36. Xiao, L.Y. (2021). Regulating Loot Boxes as Gambling? Towards a Combined Legal and Self-Regulatory Consumer Protection Approach. Interactive Entertainment Law Review, 4(1), 27–47. https://doi.org/10.4337/ielr.2021.01.02 [Open Access].

37. Xiao, L.Y., Henderson, L.L., Yang, Y., & Newall, P.W.S. (2021). Gaming the system: suboptimal compliance with loot box probability disclosure regulations in China. Behavioural Public Policy, 8(3), 590–616. https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2021.23 [Open Access].

38. Xiao, L.Y. (2020). Which Implementations of Loot Boxes Constitute Gambling? A UK Legal Perspective on the Potential Harms of Random Reward Mechanisms. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 20, 437–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00372-3 [Open Access].

39. Xiao, L.Y. (2020). ESRB’s and PEGI’s Self-Regulatory ‘Includes Random Items’ Labels Fail to Ensure Consumer Protection. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19, 2358–2361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00329-6 [$]. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31228/osf.io/w6k9v.

40. Xiao, L.Y. (2020). PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA LEGAL UPDATE: SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT'S GUIDING OPINION ON REFUND REQUESTS RELATING TO UNAUTHORIZED ONLINE VIDEO GAMING TRANSACTIONS PAID FOR BY MINORS (PUBLISHED MAY 15, 2020). Gaming Law Review, 24(7), 476-479. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2020.0014 [$]. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31228/osf.io/7tw9c.

41. Xiao, L.Y. (2020). Conceptualising the Loot Box Transaction as a Gamble Between the Purchasing Player and the Video Game Company. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19, 2355–2357. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00328-7 [$]. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31228/osf.io/6cu7p.

42. Xiao, L.Y. (2020). PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA LEGAL UPDATE: THE NOTICE ON THE PREVENTION OF ONLINE GAMING ADDICTION IN JUVENILES (PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2019, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2019). Gaming Law Review, 24(1), 51–53. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2019.0002  [$]. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31228/osf.io/j2uz9.

43. Xiao, L.Y., & Henderson, L.L. (2019). Towards an Ethical Game Design Solution to Loot Boxes: a Commentary on King and Delfabbro. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19(1), 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00164-4 [Open Access].

Encyclopaedia Entries, Refereed

1. Xiao L.Y. (2022). Loot Boxes. In P. Grabarczyk, E. Aarseth, I.K.H. Jørgensen, M.S. Debus, M. Vozaru, N.P. Houe, R.K.L. Nielsen, F. Bakkerud (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Ludic Terms. IT University of Copenhagen. https://eolt.org/articles/loot-boxes [Open Access].

2. Xiao L.Y., Henderson L.L., Nielsen R.K.L., Grabarczyk P., & Newall P.W.S. (2022). Loot Boxes, Gambling-Like Mechanics in Video Games. In N. Lee (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Computer Graphics and Games, 1075–1081. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08234-9_459-1. Open Access: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/cukwt.