Vending

Pentagon removes memorabilia vending machine

Photo: Adobe Stock

January 28, 2026

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The Department of Defense has removed a Lucky Box loot-style vending machine from the Pentagon's main food hall after it had been in operation for only about a month.

A Pentagon spokesperson told the defense news publication Task & Purpose the machine was "temporarily" relocated pending further review, though officials have not specified what prompted the decision or what the review entails.

The vending machine allowed users to pay for a chance at receiving a mystery item, ranging from low-value sports memorabilia to rare collectibles worth tens of thousands of dollars. The machine drew attention soon after its installation in late December, and images of the kiosk circulated widely on military-focused social media earlier this month.

Lucky Box Vending had posted on social media about the Pentagon placement, but later deleted those posts. The company did not respond to media inquiries about the machine's removal. The Pentagon location was the only Lucky Box unit in the immediate Washington, D.C., area, though additional machines operate in parts of Virginia and Maryland.

The machines resemble Japan's gacha kiosks and function much like real-world versions of video game loot boxes, a model that has drawn criticism and regulatory scrutiny in the past. Each play reportedly costs around $100, and Lucky Box operates dozens of machines nationwide, with a significant presence in Las Vegas casinos.