Electronic Arts will not be contesting the $11.7k USD (€10.8k, £9.2k) fine it got hit with after an Austrian court ruled that FIFA's loot boxes violate the nation's gambling laws. In 2023, after covering all operating expenses, EA reported a net income of $802 million and total assets amounting to $13.4 billion.
Sony got wrangled into the affair back in March and was ordered to pay back affected players, as the loot boxes were purchased through the PlayStation Store (although it still has the opportunity to appeal).
A spokesperson for EA explained the reasoning to GameIndustry.biz, stating: "We disagree with the court's decision and believe it got both the facts and law wrong in this case. While we've decided not to appeal this narrow decision, which has no broader legal impact beyond this individual claim, we are confident that our games do not constitute gambling and that we are in full compliance with local laws."
In Austria, courts rule on individual cases, which then have no bearing on subsequent cases, and EA has previously won similar cases in the country.
What do you think of this hefty financial burden placed on publisher EA? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source gamesindustry.biz, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 10
Well that fine is a joke why even bother. Bringing gambling to kids and this is the effect? Wow Australia this is just sad.
@Flaming_Kaiser it’s actually Austria. Not Australia
My brain’s wired in a specific way that I have to be very careful when it comes to these sorts of games, I completely sympathise with people who get hooked on the dopamine hit of opening packs. I’m not sure if there’s a way to completely disable the ability to purchase FIFA points on your account but I would do it for peace of mind cause playing the mode without spending a penny can be its own reward and still give you that rush even if it’s heavily skewed towards whales and addicts. The mode itself is based in solid theory, sticker albums and the like were huge and trading card games are still enormous but they’ve taken so many liberties over the years that it’s become a monster.
This game definitely stimulates the same mechanism in the brain as gambling. You often start out just to have a bit of fun building your own team and playing against people online, but very quickly get sucked into grinding packs and chasing rare promo cards.
Just going to encourage more peddling to kids if a slap on the wrist is all the 'punishment' they hand out. Pathetic!
EA will definitely be looking to sell now. How else will they survive such financial turmoil?
“Shall we make an example of them or shall we just slap them on the wrist?”
“We’ll, it’s nearly lunchtime…”
Welcome to capitalism. The governing bodies that make the laws to protect the common person are the same governing bodies that are owned by our masters. If we still cannot see this as sociopathy and gaslighting by our oppressors we truly do love the feel of a boot on our neck. #theworldisbuiltonlies
Guessing the money goes to the individual who put the case up against EA? Good on that person for winning the case.
@CrispyMango92 Thanks for the correction of my mistake is misread.
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