The Packs in FIFA Ultimate Team cannot be seen as a separate gambling game, but part of the skill game FUT and therefore not in conflict with the Dutch gambling law. With that reasoning, the order for periodic penalty payments that publisher Electronic Arts received from the Dutch Gaming Authority has been brushed aside. So there will be no ban on the loot boxes in the game. Tweakers spoke with ICT lawyer Arnoud Engelfriet and IT law lawyer Sven Wakker about the possible consequences of this ruling.
This is how the battle against loot boxes began
Almost four years ago, the Gaming Authority presented the first results of its research into ten popular games with loot boxes† The Ksa had started this in response to reports from gamers, parents and healthcare institutions, who were concerned about the addictive effect of loot boxes. The regulator then concluded that four of the investigated games violate the gambling law, because it is possible to trade the contents of the loot boxes for money.
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