EA protests gambling regulators red card on FIFA 18 loot boxes

Game developer Electronic Arts (EA) has received yet another red card from European gambling regulators due to the loot boxes in its popular football video game FIFA 18.

State regulators have called out the attention of EA previously over the loot boxes offered by its other game, Overwatch, which are considered by gambling watchdogs as unauthorized form of gambling. Now, state regulators have turned their attention to EA’s popular football video game FIFA 18 after parents and players complained the game’s loot crates and how it reminded them of the tricks used in casinos that lure them to place more money on the items.

With his back to the wall, EA CEO Andrew Wilson decided to fight back and “push forward” against the critics of the game developer’s loot boxes.

A defiant Wilson told The Sun that the loot boxes would be in EA’s future video games even if it meant that the company would face a possible £1.4 million ($1.89 million) fine in the future. He also contended that loot boxes were not gambling, saying that the game developer worked closely with “all the industry associations” to ensure that games like FIFA Ultimate Team are gambling-free.