“While we forbid the transfer of items and in-game currency outside of the games, we also actively seek to eliminate that where it’s going on in an illegal environment,” said Wilson. EA says that it is aware of this as well. You can find a number of sites that will exchange your virtual currency and items for real-world cash that will work at the grocery store.

And there’s no real-world value assigned to in-game items.”īut on the internet, where there’s a will (and money) there’s a way. “Second, we don’t provide or authorize any way to cash out digital items or virtual currency for real-world money. “First, players always receive a specified number of items in every FUT pack,” the executive explained. “Many of we’ve been working with for a long time, and they have evaluated and established that programs like FIFA Ultimate Team are not gambling.”ĮA, of course, says it doesn’t think FIFA Ultimate Team and other video game loot boxes are equivalent to slot machines.

“We’re working with all of the industry associations globally and with regulators in certain regions and territories,” said Wilson. Wilson explained to investors that it is working to protect this valuable revenue source, which has helped the company grow year-over-year to $1.25 billion during its last quarter even without releasing a major new game. And some people, policymakers, and regulators - including the gaming authorities in Belgium and Netherlands - that those card packs have are gambling. These card packs include random soccer players that can improve your team and your chances of winning against friends and others online. These modes bring in more than the Sims games or Battlefield, and they lean on the sale of card packs that act like loot boxes. EA also confirmed that its Ultimate Team modes in FIFA, Madden NFL, NHL, and NBA Live on PC, consoles, and mobile are its biggest live-service moneymakers.

Ea says loot boxes aren't gambling