EA Boss Defends Loot Boxes, Says They Are Not Gambling
The head honcho of Electronic Arts, Andrew Wilson, has stood up for the company’s use of loot boxes in video games, claiming they are not a form of gambling. This comes after several national watchdogs have questioned this position.
Last month, Belgium’s Gaming Commission decided that loot boxes break gambling laws and ordered their removal from all games sold in the nation. Companies that don’t follow through could face penalties of up to €800,000 ($949,700).
The Dutch Gaming Authority has also voiced similar concerns about loot boxes, raising doubts about their future.
However, Wilson insists that loot boxes in EA Sports’ “FIFA” series are not gambling. He made this statement during a talk with investors this week.
“FIFA Ultimate Team” allows players to use in-game money to buy cards that can be used to create their own teams.
Gamers can amass this in-game cash by achieving certain feats within the game, or by spending real money to expand their virtual funds.
Supervisory bodies in Belgium and the Netherlands have expressed worries that players are uncertain about the contents of their virtual “bundles,” thus introducing a component of chance.
In response, Wilson stated: “We do not believe that FIFA Ultimate Team – with all its prize chests – is a form of wagering.
“Firstly, players always receive a specific quantity of items in each FUT pack.
“Secondly, we do not offer or permit any method to exchange items for real money using virtual currency.
“We forbid the transfer of in-game currency items to external sources, and we actively strive to eliminate this in illicit environments.”
Connected news: Belgium declares that video game “loot boxes” infringe on gambling regulations
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