Electronic Arts is the target of a class action lawsuit in California, charging the company’s Ultimate Team packs in the FIFA and Madden games violate the state’s gambling laws.
Kevin Ramirez filed the suit on August 13 on behalf of a class of more than 100 others in California. The legal action claims EA “relies on creating addictive behaviors in consumers to generate huge revenues.” Ramirez demanded a jury trial and seeks $5 million in damages.
“EA’s Ultimate Team Packs are Loot Boxes,” the case claims. “Buying the packs is nothing more than a gambling bet. Purchased using real money, the Ultimate Team Packs are simply wagers on completely randomized chances within the game to win valuable professional players and other items for the EA gamer are virtual sports team.”
Ramirez estimates he spent more than $600 in FIFA and Madden packs since 2011.
According to VGC, California’s definition of gambling defines an illegal gambling device as “a machine, aperture, or device; something of value is given to play; and the player may receive something of value by element of chance.”
“None of these elements can be in dispute,” the suit reads.
One of the unanswered questions is whether the U.S. recognizes loot boxes as gambling. But the case touches on Belgium where such mechanics are considered gambling. The suit also speaks to a September 2019 report from the U.K.’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which advised the government to regulate loot boxes and ban them from sale to children.
