EA Games, one of the biggest video game makers on the planet, could be on the hook for millions of Euros after a Dutch court upheld a previous ruling banning loot boxes. It’s a big case that could further push the controversial video game feature into the ether and leave video game makers searching for new revenue streams.
At the center of the storm is ruling from the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, that basically said loot boxes were a form of gambling and must be removed from video games. This was terrible news for EA, which relies on loot boxes as a critical piece of their mega-popular FIFA games.
Dutch officials rejected all of EA’s arguments bolstering their claim that loot boxes are not a form of gambling. Judges scoffed at the idea that player packs have no cash value, pointing out a thriving aftermarket for them. They also weren’t buying the idea that posting the odds of getting certain rare items mitigated the role chance plays in actually getting them. In the end, the old argument about games of chance won the day.
Now EA could be on the hook for as much as €10 million ($11.6 million USD) in fines.
In a statement reported on by Kotaku, an EA spokesperson defended loot boxes saying, “We do not believe that our products and services violate gambling laws in any way. We are appealing this decision and we seek to avoid a situation impacting the ability of Dutch players to fully experience and enjoy FIFA Ultimate Team.”