PEGI digs its heels in over Balatro’s 18+ rating, according to its disappointed dev: ‘blaming EU laws, blaming storefronts, waiting for the future’

Balatro has been hit with an 18+ rating by PEGI, a European age rating system that’s used in more than 35 countries, over its allusions to real-world gambling. The game’s developer, LocalThunk, spoke out about the decision earlier this week—and has since contacted PEGI over the choice to lay down the law on a funny game with poker cards in it (but no microtransactions or actual gambling elements), while others with actual, chance-based microtransactions continue with 3+ age ratings unabated.

Unfortunately, the organisation is still adamant that its choices are in accordance with its guidelines, as LocalThunk writes on Bluesky: “[I] talked with PEGI and they do not see anything wrong Balatro being rated 18+, nor with EA sports FC (and similar games) having a 3+ rating.” He goes on to say that the ratings board was “blaming EU laws, blaming storefronts, waiting for the future. Sitting on their hands. I thought some good might come of this, this sucks.”

For context: PEGI’s attitude towards gambling, which you can see laid out on its website, is based on whether a game has allusions to (or could conceivably teach people how to play) games that are used to gamble in the real world: “These simulations of gambling refer to games of chance that are normally carried out in casinos or gambling halls.”