In the past few hours, news has begun to circulate on the net according to which an Austrian court has defined the FIFA 23 FUT packs as gambling: let’s find out all the details together in this dedicated article
When one thinks of football simulations in the videogame field, the first thought obviously goes to the Electronic Arts franchise, FIFA. Among the modes most loved by users and by the company itself, because it is undoubtedly also the most profitable, there’s Ultimate Team, which allows you to build your own team by “unpacking” players. Packs can be obtained with virtual currency, which can also be purchased with real currency. And here arises the eternal doubt that afflicts every gacha-game: can’t all this be defined as gambling?
According to some reports, a minor court in the district of Hermagor, Austria, declared the FIFA Ultimate Team packages a form of gambling that would therefore go against the laws of the country. The court is currently deciding whether to hold Sony liable in several cases involving plaintiffs who spent more than €400 on FIFA Packs.
FIFA 23: Are FUT Packs gambling? Austria seems to say yes
Also according to these reports, the lawsuit was filed by several FIFA players who considered the system applied by the company to be unfair and would not regulate under current Austrian gambling laws. The court, it seems, would have agreed with the plaintiffs and judged the randomness of Ultimate Team, which basically can provide real-money spenders with in-game material of more or less value than they spend, a violation of the Austrian Gaming Act. According to reports, Sony should now compensate the players who brought the lawsuit with €338.26.
We don’t know how much this petty lawsuit might actually impact the eternal squabble that associates gambling with FIFA 23 FUT Packs, but it’s certainly an interesting stir. Let us know what you think below in the comments, we will continue to keep you updated with all the videogame and tech-themed news, guides and reviews! And if you are interested in game keys at advantageous prices, we suggest you take a look at the Kinguin catalogue!