In a groundbreaking decision, an Austrian court has ruled that FIFA Ultimate Team packs do not constitute gambling. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of consumers who argued that the popular gaming feature, which allows players to purchase virtual packs containing players for their teams, is akin to gambling due to its randomized nature.
The court, however, disagreed with this assessment, stating that the purchase of FIFA Ultimate Team packs does not meet the legal definition of gambling because players are guaranteed to receive a certain number of items in each pack, regardless of their value. In other words, players are always guaranteed to receive a certain number of players, even if those players are not of high value.
This ruling comes as a relief to EA Sports, the developer of FIFA Ultimate Team, which has faced criticism in the past for its use of loot boxes and microtransactions in its games. Loot boxes, which are virtual items that can be purchased with real money and contain random rewards, have been the subject of much controversy in the gaming industry, with some critics arguing that they promote gambling among players, especially younger ones.
EA has maintained that FIFA Ultimate Team packs are not gambling and are simply a way for players to enhance their gaming experience by acquiring new players for their teams. The company has also taken steps to address concerns about the potential harm of loot boxes, including implementing regulations to limit the amount of money that players can spend on them.
In response to the court’s ruling, EA released a statement expressing its satisfaction with the decision. “We are pleased with the court’s ruling, which reaffirms our belief that FIFA Ultimate Team packs are not gambling,” the statement read. “We remain committed to providing our players with a fun and fair gaming experience, and we will continue to work to ensure that our games comply with all relevant regulations.”
While this ruling may come as a relief to fans of FIFA Ultimate Team and EA Sports, the debate over the use of loot boxes in gaming is far from over. With lawmakers around the world considering regulations to address the potential harm of loot boxes, it remains to be seen how this issue will continue to evolve in the future.
