Published: September 10, 2018

Brussels prosecutors launch investigation into EA over refusal to remove loot boxes

EA is keeping card packs in FIFA 18 and 19, which Belgium considers in violation of its anti-gambling laws.

While Valve and Blizzard have complied with Belgium's anti-gambling laws and removed loots boxes from their games in that country, EA isn't being so cooperative. When it comes to FIFA 18, EA is keeping its randomized card packs in the game, and plans the same for FIFA 19 which releases at the end of September.

According to a machine translation of this article in Metro, the Brussels public prosecutor's office announced it is conducting a criminal investigation into EA for failure to comply. EA, meanwhile, doesn't feel it is in violation of the existing anti-gambling laws, because loot boxes, in its opinion, do not constitute gambling. 

"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 in an investor call back in May.

Belgium's Gaming Commission reviewed four games earlier this year, and determined FIFA 18 (and two others) contained loot boxes that contravened the country's gambling regulations.

https://www.pcgamer.com/brussels-prosecutors-launch-investigation-into-ea-over-refusal-to-remove-loot-boxes/

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