The developer of Balatro, localthunk, has criticized the European age rating system and EA for their handling of gambling in video games. Balatro, a deck-building game inspired by poker, received an 18+ rating in Europe, despite not featuring microtransactions, gambling, or online play. This decision was met with criticism from localthunk, who suggested adding these elements to lower the rating to 3+ like EA Sports FC.
Despite its poker theme, Balatro falls into the deck-building roguelike genre and has gained significant popularity in 2024. PEGI justified the 18+ rating by citing the game’s prominent gambling imagery and its potential to teach real-life poker skills. In contrast, EA Sports FC, which offers in-game purchases for random items, received a 3+ rating with a warning for parents about the potential for in-game purchases.
The controversy surrounding loot boxes, which allow players to buy random in-game items with real money, has been a hot topic in the gaming industry. While the European Union has yet to publish legislation addressing loot boxes, the UK government introduced laws requiring parental consent for players under 18 to access them. Localthunk emphasized his frustration with games like EA Sports FC, which include gambling mechanics for children, rather than his own game receiving an 18+ rating.
Overall, the clash between localthunk and PEGI highlights the ongoing debate over gambling in video games and the need for clearer regulations to protect younger players from potentially harmful content.