Pentagon Removes Loot Box Vending Machine After Review

What do one of the most secure buildings in the world and loot box-style vending machines have in common? For a brief period, one hosted the other, for reasons that are still unclear but will likely be identified. 

Surprises at the Pentagon

We are talking about the Pentagon, which, according to information confirmed by Department of Defense spokesperson Sue Gough to Task & Purpose last week, has quietly pulled a vending machine with surprise prizes from its main food hall. The loot machine has been sitting there for about a month, since late December 2025. 

Gough explained that, at least for the time being, the Lucky Box Vending machine is no longer found in the high-traffic area constantly used by both military personnel and civilian employees, as it has been moved to a different location.

“Beyond that, the Pentagon has not explained what prompted the review or how long it might take,” the spokesperson added.

Just like any other machine of its kind, the lootbox allowed customers to pay to receive a mystery item. Available prizes included low-value sports memorabilia and rare collectibles, including rare Pokémon cards and AuthenticFans autographed jerseys, described by the company as “holy grail” items. Allegedly, some were worth tens of thousands of dollars.

“Lucky Box is redefining the collectibles industry with immersive, gamified retail experiences. Every pull guarantees a win, with the chance to unlock ultra-rare grails or exclusive redemptions,” says the company behind the loot boxes.

Military-focused social media had picked up actual photos of the machine at the start of January, drawing special attention to the unusual location. 

All Traces Vanished

Lucky Box Vending had previously announced and celebrated the Pentagon installation on December 23. However, the respective posts have apparently since been deleted. 

As initially reported by 404 Media, references to the Pentagon location also vanished from the company’s social channels. 

In one now-deleted Threads post, the company wrote, “A place built on legacy, leadership, and history, now experiencing the thrill of Lucky Box firsthand.” The post went on to call it “a milestone moment for Lucky Box”, expressing excitement “for this opportunity.”

The Pentagon machine was the only Lucky Box location in the immediate Washington, D.C. area, though several others operate farther out in Virginia and Maryland.

Lucky Box machines, which are very similar to Japan’s iconic gacha machines that dispense capsules containing random items, have long been criticized and scrutinized, including by a Federal Trade Commission investigation, for concerns about gambling-like mechanics.

Each Lucky Box play reportedly costs around $100. The company operates dozens of machines nationwide, with more than a dozen located in Las Vegas alone. In Europe, loot boxes have already been banned in countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, while the United Kingdom has stopped short of regulating them as a form of gambling activity.