You’ve seen it. The endless pack openings, the hype, the frustration when the desired player doesn’t show up. But let’s cut the nonsense: FUT packs aren’t about skill or strategy. They’re a calculated gamble dressed up as entertainment, and the numbers don’t lie.
How FUT Packs Work
· Each pack contains random player cards, club items, and consumables. You don’t know what’s inside until you open it, making every purchase a roll of the dice.
· You can grind through gameplay to earn these packs, but let’s not pretend EA banks on that. The real money comes from players buying FIFA Points and Ultimate Team Coins to chase better rewards.
· The items remain invisible pre-purchase—a hallmark of the loot box mechanic.
This system preys on chance, keeping players hooked while delivering inconsistent returns. Rare or high-value player cards? Good luck.
Gambling Comparisons: FUT Packs vs. Online Casino Bonuses
The gambling mechanics of FUT packs mirror practices seen in online casinos. Both rely on the chance to keep users engaged. FUT packs prompt players to spend on random outcomes, much like trying your luck at a slot machine. Items in these packs are hidden until purchased, creating a psychological hook. Similarly, promotions such as bonuses for online casinos incentivize players to wager more. These parallels reinforce why FUT packs often face criticism for fostering gambling-like behavior.
Critics argue that FUT packs exploit similar vulnerabilities targeted by online casinos. The drive to chase rare items echoes the pursuit of jackpots. This isn’t exclusive to FUT. The gaming industry’s use of randomized rewards is deeply ingrained, from card-based mechanics to loot boxes. By examining contexts, regulators are drawing tighter connections between virtual gaming economies and traditional betting models. This scrutiny challenges companies to rethink their monetization tactics before stricter regulations inevitably follow.
The Psychological Hook
EA doesn’t stop at mechanics; they leverage psychology to keep players spending.
· Loot boxes—including FUT packs—trigger behaviors tied to problem gambling. The connection between loot box purchases and gambling addiction has been well-documented in research.
· Limited-time promos like Team of the Year or Team of the Season exploit the fear of missing out to escalate spending. Combined with flashy animations during pack openings, EA maximizes the emotional impact.
The system doesn’t offer a fair return on investment. Players throw money into the void, often coming away with minimal gains and more frustration. Gambling houses thrive on the same principle.
The Money Machine
EA turned FIFA Ultimate Team into a financial juggernaut, raking in $1.62 billion in 2021. Loot boxes like FUT packs aren’t side content—they’re the main course. In fact:
· FUT alone accounted for 53% of EA’s total extra content revenue in 2021.
· Between 2018 and 2021, EA’s extra content revenue surged by over $1 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.7%.
EA profits from a system that pushes players into cycles of spending without delivering proportional rewards. High revenue comes on the backs of disappointed users convinced they’re just one pack away from a rare card.
Courts and Critics Push Back
The loot box debate isn’t happening in the shadows. Regulators and legal systems are paying attention.
· In Europe, courts have begun classifying paid FUT points as gambling. Some countries have regulated or outright banned loot boxes as a preventative measure.
· The Dutch authorities fined EA up to 10 million euros over the feature, although that fine was overturned later in court.
The backlash is not surprising. FUT packs pull from the same playbook as a virtual casino, exploiting compulsive behaviors for profit. Calls for legislation are mounting because unchecked systems like this won’t fix themselves.
Spending Dynamics and Player Response
This system breaks player trust and drains wallets. Here’s why:
· The randomness and low probabilities for high-rated players directly contrast with the high costs of packs. For example, one FIFA streamer calculated it would cost 4,789 FIFA Points to hit a single Team of the Year player.
· Players are left grinding hours for free packs or spending large sums on incremental chances that often lead to frustration.
Some players describe the process as tedious and intentionally dull unless extra money is spent. EA denies forcing anyone to buy packs but simultaneously designs incentives to steer players toward the store. Try calling that optional.
Takeaways
· FUT packs aren’t transparent, even with odds displayed. They prey on addictive behaviors while delivering a tiny chance at satisfaction.
· EA’s loot box model makes billions annually by embedding gambling-like systems in its platform, fueling outrage from critics and regulators alike.
The problem isn’t isolated to FUT. It’s an industry-wide trend demanding scrutiny—and a reckoning is coming.
