Commentary: How Singapore can make blind boxes less addictive

First, the probability disclosure may go unnoticed. Eye-catching visuals of the prizes on blind boxes may gain more attention than any disclaimer and accompanying information. In the consumer’s decision-making process, the emotional desire to obtain the rare item can overpower any consideration of the odds. 

Next, consumers may wrongly believe that after enough misses, their next purchase is more likely to be a rare item. This is the gambler’s fallacy – the buyer predicts probability based on past outcomes, not acknowledging that each purchase is a random, independent event.

Finally, consumers may be tempted to buy more if they know their odds are higher and more favourable. And even if the odds are lower, consumers may take it as a personal challenge to score a rare item.