Card game Balatro was a huge hit last year – but a year-long struggle with the European age ratings board has exposed how well-meaning rules can have unintended consequences
A game with actual gambling disguised as a loot system - perfectly fine, PEGI 3+
A game that depicts gambling but has no actual gambling in it - absolutely fucking NOT, PEGI 18+
I can understand why PEGI would be hesitant to give a game depicting gambling a rating of 3+…
But putting it as 18+, on the same level as actual, real money gambling games is ridiculous.
It shows a complete lack of awareness regarding the difference in danger between depiction of gambling vs actual gambling.
And perhaps more dangerously means malicious publishers (cough EA cough) are able to get away with slipping disguised real money gambling into their games (and in front of children eyes) unnoticed.
It’s not even depicting gambling. You can’t wager anything, and the only overlap with gambling is some terminology and that your scores are based on poker hands, which is based on rarity.
The gameplay is basically Slay the Spire with scores instead of HP, and no choice of paths to take. In fact, I argue there’s more gambling in StS because you can gamble your HP a bit to get a better chance at finding the right card depending on the path you choose.
Balatro has nothing to do with gambling. Full stop.
They’re rewarding gambling. In real casinos, the larger the jackpot, the lower the expected return, generally speaking, so they’re conditioning you to take bigger risks.
It’s not a real wager though since you can’t opt out.
Yeah…
A game with actual gambling disguised as a loot system - perfectly fine, PEGI 3+
A game that depicts gambling but has no actual gambling in it - absolutely fucking NOT, PEGI 18+
I can understand why PEGI would be hesitant to give a game depicting gambling a rating of 3+…
But putting it as 18+, on the same level as actual, real money gambling games is ridiculous.
It shows a complete lack of awareness regarding the difference in danger between depiction of gambling vs actual gambling. And perhaps more dangerously means malicious publishers (cough EA cough) are able to get away with slipping disguised real money gambling into their games (and in front of children eyes) unnoticed.
It’s not even depicting gambling. You can’t wager anything, and the only overlap with gambling is some terminology and that your scores are based on poker hands, which is based on rarity.
The gameplay is basically Slay the Spire with scores instead of HP, and no choice of paths to take. In fact, I argue there’s more gambling in StS because you can gamble your HP a bit to get a better chance at finding the right card depending on the path you choose.
Balatro has nothing to do with gambling. Full stop.
Don’t forget betting on the two knights fighting event!
And it’s way better to take the riskier option.
They’re rewarding gambling. In real casinos, the larger the jackpot, the lower the expected return, generally speaking, so they’re conditioning you to take bigger risks.
It’s not a real wager though since you can’t opt out.