How FIFA Ultimate Team Promotes Gambling: A Guide for Concerned Parents 

In 2008, the popular video game franchise, FIFA, released the online game mode FIFA Ultimate Team – or FUT – as part of its FIFA 09 football simulation game. The mode lets gamers use various real players to build their own teams and compete against other players or the computer. 

While the mode itself remains an integral part of FIFA gameplay, it has come under fire for its use of loot boxes. Critics have argued that these boxes effectively constitute gambling. Many also consider the microtransactions involved in purchasing loot boxes to be exploitative.

With FIFA targeting a vulnerable audience of adolescents and young people, it is important for parents to understand the risks involved and make use of trusted parental control solutions such as Mobicip. This article aims to educate parents about the gambling-like mechanisms present in FUT and other games that make use of loot boxes and microtransactions and provide actionable advice. 

What is FIFA Ultimate Team?

FIFA stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association, which is French for International Federation of Association Football. The FIFA series is a set of football video games developed by Electronic Arts (EA). It is available in a range of platforms including the PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, iOS and Windows. Having sold over 325 million copies in 2021, FIFA remains one of the most successful video game franchises. The latest and last instalment, FIFA 23, received positive reviews and was nominated for many awards. The Fifa Ultimate Team feature or FUT is a game mode in which gamers can make use of the names of real players from various teams to build their own all-star team. 

Building a Team using Virtual Cards in FIFA Ultimate Team

The FIFA Ultimate Team is built using virtual cards that correspond to various players. Different players possess varying attribute levels. There are over 23 attributes in FIFA, such as Awareness, Balance, Stamina, Curve, etc. Gamers typically look at these features when building and managing their team. Players can acquire cards either separately or as part of packs.

The Role of Microtransactions in Acquiring Player Packs

Packs in FIFA include randomized sets of cards corresponding to various players, managers, items, such as stadiums and kits, and consumables, such as healing and fitness. These packs can be acquired in multiple ways, including:

• through the completion of challenges
• purchase with FIFA coins that are obtained upon completion of tasks, matches, tournaments, etc.
• microtransactions involving small sums of real money. 

Understanding Loot Boxes and Microtransactions

Packs in FIFA are generally considered “loot boxes” – a feature of gameplay that provides players with a random set of in-game items. While many online games today commonly feature them, especially free-to-download ones, FIFA became the first major video game developer to use them in 2008.

Loot boxes are an important avenue of income for gaming companies as they are often available to gamers for purchase with real money. In 2023, loot boxes generate around 15 billion dollars in revenue.  The low prices of individual loot boxes and their lucrative contents make them a tempting buy for many who want to get ahead in the game.

Similarities between Loot Boxes and Gambling

The permissible use of real money to purchase loot boxes has long been the subject of critique and controversy. People have likened their modus operandi—generating uncertain or randomized output in return for payment—to a form of gambling. Studies have either established direct links between loot boxes and real-life problem gambling or recommended loot box regulation in the interest of harm reduction. Their overuse could lead to games becoming essentially pay-to-win. Star Wars Battlefront II is an example of a game that received widespread backlash for its overpowered loot boxes. It ended up scrapping microtransactions and providing several free updates to keep people interested in the game. 

The Risks of Gambling-Like Mechanics in FIFA Ultimate Team

The following are some of the risks of the gambling-like nature of FUT:

The Addictive Nature of FIFA Ultimate Gaming

Microtransactions in online gaming like FUT manipulate players by promoting impulse buying and taking advantage of their aversion to loss. Repeating these transactions indefinitely makes them dangerous. Loot boxes, with their random rewards and uncertain outcomes, encourage repeated purchases throughout gameplay.

Financial Risks of FIFA Ultimate Team

Repeated purchases of loot boxes can lead to the escalation of spending. A subsection of gamers with a tendency to overspend on virtual objects contributed around 90% of loot box revenue. Known as whales, these users spend significant amounts of money on in-game purchases.

Psychological Impacts of FUT

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the pitfalls of loot boxes and microtransactions. Research has shown  an increased sense of impulsivity at younger ages. Furthermore, uncritical and unregulated exposure to such mechanisms at a young age could normalize unhealthy spending habits. 

How FIFA Ultimate Gaming Targets Young Players

FIFA has an age rating of PEGI 3 and ESRB E, making it accessible to a wide age range. A Statista study shows that 17% of EA players are under the age of 17 and 17% are between the ages of 17 and 24. Its target demographic is primarily gamers aged 12 to 15 and those aged 16 to 21. The franchise’s use of social media and partnerships with influencers or streamers often promotes the game among younger audiences. Flashy animation, limited-time offers such as promos, weekly card updates, and other marketing techniques encourage limitless spending within the game.

Parental Concerns and Challenges

Video games are a popular source of entertainment today among adolescents and adults alike. Thus it becomes important to understand how to regulate without restricting. This is especially true in the case of games that make significant use of loot boxes and in-game purchases. Some challenges include:

• The lack of transparency when it comes to the contents of loot boxes.
• The exploitative nature of microtransactions. 
• The difficulty in differentiating between harmless gameplay and problematic spending.
• Discerning what, if any, is a safe amount of money to spend on gameplay.
• The risks of addiction and overconsumption.

How Parents Can Protect Their Children

Ultimately, open communication and the setting of reasonable limits enable parents and children to avoid the pitfalls of in-game purchases. Teaching children to manage money and be open about their purchases is a lesson that extends beyond video games and into other real-life decisions.

Setting Spending Limits and Monitoring Gameplay

Parents can regulate their children’s spending in online gaming by monitoring their children’s purchases or setting spending limits. The latter is a good way to teach slightly older children the importance of budgeting and responsible spending.

Educating Children about the Risks of Gambling-like Mechanics.

It is important to teach children to identify gambling and gambling-like mechanisms and educate them on their risks. It is useful to draw the line between responsible and irresponsible purchases. Creating an open environment for children to tell parents about their online experience and purchases will further equip parents to counter harmful behaviour. 

Use of Parental Control Solutions like Mobicip 

Parental control solutions like Mobicip can protect children from gambling-like activities. Here are some of its features:

• App blocking: Prevents access to specific apps or games like FUT that include loot boxes or microtransactions.
• Screen time limits: Helps manage how long children can spend on gaming apps, reducing exposure to gambling-like mechanics.
• Website filtering: Blocks websites promoting gambling or in-game purchases.
• Purchase monitoring: Notifies parents of app store purchases and spending activity.
• Customizable app usage rules: Set rules for when and how long apps like FUT can be used.
• Activity reports: Gives parents a detailed breakdown of time spent on games and in-app activity.
• Multiple device monitoring: Allows consistent control across phones, tablets, and computers.
• Real-time alerts: Sends alerts for risky online behavior or access to restricted content.

The Role of Regulation and Advocacy

Loot boxes and microtransactions have spurred a series of regulations around the world. Countries like Belgium have banned paid loot boxes. Countries like China, Japan, and Taiwan have laws requiring the disclosure of percentage probabilities of acquiring various items. Many countries also have consumer protection laws shielding them from unfair business practices. The US Federal Trade Commission uses these laws to penalize multiple tech and video game companies for selling in-app commodities. There is no unified approach towards microtransactions and policy varies from country to country. Thus, it is prudent for concerned parents to educate themselves on local legislation dealing with in-app purchases and consumer care. They can also support efforts to campaign for better protection where it is found lacking.

Conclusion

As video games become more immersive and commercially driven, parents and children need to recognize the risks hidden beneath the surface. Features like loot boxes and microtransactions can lead to unhealthy spending habits, especially among younger players who may not fully grasp the consequences. Promoting digital literacy and open communication within families can help mitigate these risks and foster healthier gaming habits. Parental control tools like Mobicip play a key role in this effort. By allowing parents to set limits, block risky content, and monitor spending, Mobicip empowers families to guide their children toward safer, more balanced digital experiences.