The hidden cost of FIFA Points: Enabling a generation of gamblers
by Robbie Herbison
by ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images
Boxing Day 2014. An 11-year-old boy was itching to sprint to his room, throw his headset on and start playing FIFA 15. His mum was more than happy to let him do his thing, it was the day after Christmas after all. He loaded up Ultimate Team and was enamoured by the shiny cards and world class footballers that were on his screen staring at him, just begging to be packed.
He tried to play a few games but quickly realised that it would be impossible to win any games without getting better players for his team. He decided to use a small amount of his Christmas money on FIFA points to try and improve things for his squad. “Just a tenner”, he told himself. Well, that tenner turned into twenty, that twenty into forty, and that forty into eighty, meaning that all his money had been used up, and the poor boy didn’t have any money left to buy the bike he desperately wanted.
Boxing Day 2023. The very same man, now 20-years-old, was itching to sprint to the bookies, throw his bet slip down and stare at the horses as they ran his fifth £300 bet of the day into the ground. Now the poor man didn’t have any money left to pay his rent, pay for his food, or buy his girlfriend a birthday present.
EA Sports – the developers of FIFA and FC games – would argue that their game allows busy players to progress and keep up with the power curve by simply playing the game. A player may decide they would like to speed up this progress by spending real money on FIFA points to try and secure the best players for their squad via opening packs.
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The alternative is spending their every waking moment grinding for free in-game currency. If it is looked at this way, they would say it is no different than spending money on any other hobby to try and get better, such as better football boots, better darts or golf equipment. However, this argument completely ignores the psychological manipulation used by the developers.
The loot box system used, in which random packs - with no guarantees as to what will be received - is inherently designed to tap into addictive tendencies by giving someone the idea that they could get the best players, despite it being extremely unlikely. The rush and chase of this system can easily lead to poor financial decisions and addictive behaviours, just like someone with a tendency to gamble.
These loot box systems in games can be a factor in young people building up a problematic level of reward sensitivity. Reward sensitivity is a psychological construct that plays a role on decision making and risk-taking. High levels of this leads to people taking higher chances when it comes to financial decisions, in the pursuit of a high reward.
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According to research carried out by Sciencedirect, there is a direct link between high levels of reward sensitivity and the purchasing of loot boxes, as well as a link with gambling disorders. So, the question must be asked, why are we letting children effectively gamble their money away when the reward is fake football players, but it is rightly outlawed for them to do it for real money when the punishment is very similar?
The number of people referred on the NHS for gambling addictions and the money spent on FIFA points have both been increasing dramatically over the last few years, according to NHS England. It is estimated that EA made approximately $1.6b on extra content revenue in 2024, which directly correlates to the 130% increase in problematic gambling referrals in the same year. Gambling addictions are an extremely serious form of addiction, that may not be taken as seriously as others but can be just as life-destroying. So, let’s attack it from its roots to try and stop anyone else having the same issues that I had as that 11-year-old boy, and as that 20-year-old man.
I am not suggesting that we ban FIFA, or the Ultimate Team mode as I have far too many scores to settle with 13-year-olds who called me mean names. However, we must follow Belgium and the Netherlands in banning the sale of FIFA points. With the dangers of problematic gambling being apparent, surely it is now time to go back to the winning factor being skill, not money?
For any support or help with gambling issues please use the below links.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/