An Austrian court has ruled that FIFA16;s in-game FUT 23 Coins  Ultimate Team (FUT) packs are a form of 20;illegal gambling21; and has ordered PlayStation manufacturer Sony to repay £299 (€338).

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As reported by Games Wirtschaft (via VGC), Austria17;s district court of Hermagor has issued a verdict for a lawsuit that Viennese law firm Salburghas filed against Sony and FIFA developer Electronic Arts.

In their current form, the court has claimed FIFA16;s Ultimate Team packs should be classified as 20;gambling games that require a license21; because their value can fluctuate with each purchase.

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As a result, Sony must refund £299.35 in purchases. However, the company is yet to comment on the ruling and still has room to appeal. NME has reached out to Sony for a statement.

As Gamesindustry.biz has explained, Sony was involved in the lawsuit because the FUT packs were bought through the company17;s PlayStation Store.In recent years, FUT packs in FIFA have been subjected to growing scrutiny from watchdogs and government bodies.

In June 2022, a report authored by the Norwegian Consumer Council alleged that EA has been “targeting loot boxes and manipulative practices at kids” and uses 20;layers of virtual currencies to mask or distort real-world monetary costs.21;

In November, research from Newcastle and Loughborough  buy FIFA 23 Coins universities claimed loot boxes cause 20;financial and emotional harm to children.21;