PEGI lowers age ratings for Balatro and Luck Be A Landlord to PEGI 12
Both games have had their ratings reduced from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12, signalling a potential shift in how gambling-themed games are classified.
Key points:
– PEGI has reduced the age ratings of ‘Balatro’ and ‘Luck Be A Landlord’ from 18 to 12 following successful appeals by their publishers
– The Complaints Board determined that despite gambling themes, both games contain mitigating elements that warrant lower age classifications
– PEGI has said it will develop a more nuanced classification system for gambling-related content going forward, reserving PEGI 18 ratings specifically for casino and betting hall simulations
The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) Complaints Board has amended the age ratings for Balatro and Luck Be A Landlord, reducing both from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12 following successful appeals from their respective publishers.
Balatro, a deck-building game that incorporates poker hand mechanics, was originally classified as PEGI 18 due to concerns about gambling elements. However, the Complaints Board determined that the game’s fantastical elements and lack of real-world gambling mechanics justified a lower rating.
Similarly, Luck Be A Landlord, which features a slot machine mechanic, was reclassified to PEGI 12 as it does not teach transferable gambling skills.
PEGI has acknowledged the board’s decision and stated that its classification system evolves in response to cultural expectations and expert guidance.
Good to know: Previously, any game that included gambling simulations, even without real money wagering, was automatically rated PEGI 18; the recent appeals have prompted PEGI to refine its classification approach
The PEGI Experts Group will now develop a more detailed framework for handling gambling-related content, maintaining PEGI 18 for games that simulate real-world betting environments while allowing some gambling-themed mechanics within the PEGI 12 category.
The anonymous creator of Balatro, known as LocalThunk, had previously criticised PEGI’s policies as inconsistent, particularly regarding the treatment of loot boxes in games like EA FC, which carries a PEGI 3 rating despite featuring purchasable randomised card packs.
Following this recent decision, however, LocalThunk praised PEGI’s move toward a more balanced approach to ratings, stating: “This is a good step from PEGI, bringing nuance to their ratings criteria that used to be 18+ or nothing. I hope this change will allow developers to create without being unfairly punished.”
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