News –
2 november 2020 – 09:00
The Gaming Authority (Ksa) has imposed a penalty on Electronic Arts with a maximum of 5 million euros for violating the Law on games of chance with ‘Packs’ in the game of Fifa.
The charge was already imposed in 2019. The court of The Hague recently put the Ksa in the right in this case.
The charges were imposed by the Ksa because the popular football game Fifa contains illegal so-called loot boxes. These are a kind of treasure chest.
Fifa loot boxes contain football players who can improve the team with which the game is played. Because players sometimes have a high value and there is also the possibility to trade players, there is a violation of the Law on games of chance.
According to Dutch law, a game of chance with which a prize or premium can be won may only be offered if a license has been granted for it.
The Ksa investigated loot boxes in 2018, after concerns were voiced by gamers, parents and healthcare institutions, among others. Incidentally, it is not only a Dutch subject, regulators all over the world are busy with the blurring boundaries between gambling and gaming.
Since the investigation in 2018, there have been various contacts between the Ksa and Electronic Arts and various procedures have been followed. Sometimes the Ksa of the law or the judge is not yet allowed to publicize a measure during legal proceedings. That was also the case in this case.
Foto Pixabay
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