The Kansspelauthoriteit (a Dutch organization that aims to protect players, prevent gambling addictions, and fights illegal gambling) has gotten word from the Dutch courts that they can fine Electronic Arts up to €250.000 a week, for violating the gambling rules.

Electronic Arts went into appeal but the courts sided with the Kansspelauthoriteit.

The Kansspelauthoriteit considers the packs containing players a form of illegal gambling, mostly because these players can be resold to others.

As long as Electronic Arts continue to offer these packs to players, the Kansspelauthoriteit can fine EA up to €250.000 a week, up to a maximum of €5.000.000.

This fine will be sent to EA itself, as well as the company that developed FIFA, meaning they can fine €10.000.000.

EA has three weeks to disable this form of loot boxes in their game before they will start to receive the fines.

Of course, EA is going into higher appeal - so the final decision will probably have to wait a bit longer.

Also realize, that this is just for FIFA. Not any of the other games that EA publishes and offers the same kind of in-game content.

It can become a real problem for EA in the long-run.

One final thing, it's good to realize that it has been deemed illegal due to the two following factors:

A) Players not knowing what players they are going to get in advance.

B) Because these players can be sold through third-party websites for money.