EA insists FIFA 18 Ultimate Team ISN’T gambling after regulator shows loot boxes red card
Belgium's justice minister said mixing games and gambling was 'dangerous for mental health', but EA's CEO insists the mechanics don't amount to gambling at all
EA has hit back after European regulators said that aspects of FIFA 18, Overwatch and other games violated laws meant to protect gamblers.
Parents and players have expressed outrage over loot crates – boxes of random items you can buy for either real money or in-game currency. In FIFA's ultimate team mode, they contain random selections of players needed to improve your team.
Developers have been accused of using tricks reminiscent of those used by casinos and the gambling industry in an effort to more efficiently part players and their money – even in cases where games are aimed at or played by children.
Facing a fine of up to £1..4 million if it doesn't remove the offending items, EA's CEO Andrew Wilson hit back in a conversation with investors.
"We don't believe that FIFA Ultimate Team or loot boxes are gambling firstly because players always receive a specified number of items in each pack, and secondly we don't provide or authorize any way to cash out or sell items or virtual currency for real money," Wilson said.
After the report that threatened EA with the fines was released, Belgian justice minister Koen Geens said mixing games and gambling is "dangerous for mental health."
The head of Belgium's gambling commission also said players were 'tempted and misled' by the boxes.
In the UK the boxes are not currently classified as gambling, but the Gambling Commission recently warned of a "growth in examples where the line between video gaming and gambling is becoming increasingly blurred."
The commission said that even where boxes didn't meet the definition of gambling, parents would "undoubtedly expect proper protections to be put in place".
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