The game Balatro, originally rated PEGI 18 for its gambling imagery, has successfully appealed for a PEGI 12 rating due to its fantastical elements. Initially rated PEGI 3, the rating escalated shortly after launch in February 2024. Following an appeal from its publisher Fireshine Games, the Complaints Board determined that the game’s poker gameplay does not promote real-world gambling skills, leading to the new rating. Similarly, another game, Luck Be A Landlord, also received a lower rating after a similar argument regarding its slot machine mechanics.
PEGI is going to make more classification criteria to address games with gambling imagery, but that may not need the PEGI 18 rating.
The game was originally rated PEGI 3, but was bumped to PEGI 18 due to "prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling."
The Complaints Board concluded that, although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements.
The Complaints Board reasoned that the same arguments as above applied: although the game features a slot machine mechanic, there were no specific transferable gambling skills.
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