Poland faces loot box controversy with EA’s FIFA 19 FUT

The loot box controversy has made its presence felt Poland, with Electronics Art (EA) releasing FIFA 19 FUT in the country. Poland follows Belgium and US states to take a strong view about loot boxes. A recent media report suggests that Poland’s ministry of finance is investigating about loot boxes.

FIFA 19 FUT card packs could be seen as violating the Polish Gambling Act. According to Article 1, Section II of the Polish Gambling Law “Gambling games include games of chance, betting, card games and games on gaming machines.”

Article 2, however, defines “games of chance” as “games, including those conducted via the Internet, for cash or in-kind prizes, the result of which depends in particular on chance”. But the problem is in the definition of the law and its current wording. None of the definitions provided under Article 2 is an exact match to how Loot Boxes operate.

The notice also mentions how minors have access to the slot machine gambling elements of FIFA 19 FUT mode. The game is also widely advertised to minors without any regulation. The promotion of Ultimate Team mode should be considered advertising of gambling to minors.

Later on an open later by CD-Action, a gaming magazine from Poland, addressed the Ministry of Finance, explaining how loot boxes are not limited to FIFA 19 and urging the Ministry to take action against EA, 2K, and other companies for predatory practices.

EA shared a statement to the media addressing this issue. The company that it takes legal compliance and ethics seriously. Loot boxes are optional and there are parental options to restrict extra payments from minors.

The Polish Ministry has released a public statement in which it declared that loot boxes cannot be considered gambling under the current wording of the Polish Gambling Law.