European videogame rating system PEGI has officially rescinded its 18+ label for Balatro, after complaints were lodged with the board concerning its relationship to gambling. PEGI now says the poker-themed roguelike contains “mitigating fantastical elements” that warrant an age rating of 12 or above instead.
Last year, indie hit Balatro was suddenly removed from storefronts for containing gambling content. The game quickly made its way back to platforms, however, and publisher Playstack confirmed that this had only impacted the card game on “one platform in limited regions.” Since then, complaints have been lodged against the European rating system PEGI for the 18+ ruling, but a new statement confirms this rating has now been changed, alongside an 18+ decision for Luck Be A Landlord.
“The PEGI 18 rating for the game ‘Balatro’ has been changed to a PEGI 12 following a successful appeal submitted by publisher Sold Out Sales & Marketing,” PEGI writes. “The Complaints Board concluded that, although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements that warranted a PEGI 12 rating.
“At this moment, any teaching or glamorization of simulated gambling automatically leads to a PEGI 18 rating. On the basis of these appeals, the PEGI Experts Group will develop a more granular set of classification criteria to handle gambling themes and the simulation, teaching and glamorization of gambling in different age categories, which will now include 12 but also keep 18 as an age category for games that simulate gambling typically played in casinos and betting halls.”
As of right now, PEGI’s age rating system asserts that any game containing “elements that encourage or teach gambling” will net it an 18+ rating. However, PEGI’s change indicates that the classification board will take a more intense look at games that simply contain themes adjacent to gambling instead.
It’s vital to note that while Balatro does base its rules on poker hands, it doesn’t involve any form of actual gambling. Instead, you purchase the game once on your platform of choice and use a twisted version of the rules of poker to get as high a score as possible.
If you want more we’ve got a breakdown of what the Balatro Blank Voucher does, alongside a look at the best Balatro mods.
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