Is Playing Balatro the same as playing at an online casino
LocalThunk is a video game developer from Canada who is the maker of the popular Balatro card game. Since its release in February 2024, Balatro has received strong critical acclaim, earning high review scores from outlets such as Metacritic and Eurogamer. The game has also been recognized with multiple industry awards, including Game of the Year in 2024 and Best Mobile Game.
Despite all these positive outlooks, the creator of Balatro has been struggling with the finer details pertaining to the acceptable age of play. Currently downloadable on Playstation 5, Switch, Google Play, Apple App Store, and many other platforms, the game is essentially open for all to install on their device. Balatro, while offering an interesting fusion of solitaire and poker, the argument fixates on how close the app is to a gambling game.
Covering many forms of entertainment like TV shows, games, and apps, PEGI regulates content that may feature vulgarities not meant for the target viewer. It’s been estimated that more than 80% of teens indulge in a variety of titles, on single or multiple platforms. The concern is largely focused on kids becoming addicted to actual (real-money) staking- either secretly or once they become adults.
While this is still up for debate, it’s a genuine concern that could instil irreversible damage. Real licensed casino establishments will never condone an unhealthy obsession to gambling, much less kids trying to follow suit. Whether it’s brick & mortar or an online site, casinos operate hand-in-hand with their regulators to ensure a play area that’s fair and law-abiding. The KYC process is also there to stop registrations that might not be of age.
Balatro is mainstream poker game
Balatro works by playing several rounds of cards and collecting points in the process. When the game starts, you’re handed nine cards with the option to submit up to five cards as a poker hand to gain points. You do this until you reach the goal amount to win. Balatro uses suits known in poker and awards more points when better hands are played. This is further elevated by a boss challenge that switches the difficulty up with a twist every third round.
One of the main focuses in the game is specialised cards that can offer a choice of various bonuses, such as multipliers. Jokers are also a big one and tie into different strategies you can implement in order to win. You can purchase these cards at the shop, which is usually a good idea to do before or after a session of Balatro has finished. It’s also worth noting that scoring is counted from left to right.
With the likeness of a gambling title, the sobering fact is that no betting takes place while playing the game. The only cost that comes is the initial purchase of ownership, with no other prerequisite (in-app purchases are available but not mandatory). The reality that no wagers are happening should be one of the most important elements that separates titles that would usually be considered casino-oriented.
Balatro successfully appealed a PEGI 18 age restriction
Age restrictions in games were first established during the beginning of the 90s, a change that was brought and pushed forward by concerned parents. While graphic content was never intended for the demographic of minors, there was simply no quick way to tell until the PEGI rating came into effect. There are some main aspects that PEGI looks at when evaluating a new title for a pass or failure.
Subject matters that affect the restrictions include bad language, drugs, discrimination, sex, fear, in-game purchases, violence, and gambling. Balatro covers in-game purchases, however, this is seen in most modern games like the popular Candy Crush and Plants vs Zombies franchises. With a strict conviction, PEGI felt that the game was too reminiscent of adult gambling titles. It’s the likeness of poker with a splash of color and powerful cards for strategic purposes.
In the end, Balatro successfully appealed to lower the age rating to 12. With kids as young as 12 now able to legally access the card game, it’s debatable whether this will have a positive or negative effect in the long run. With all of LocalThunk’s successes and awards honored, the lower age rating continues to spark debate among parents and regulators.
Balatro has the same addictive properties as online casinos
There are some similarities in Balatro that you can expect to see in casino titles. It’s first and foremost a poker-styled card game, with poker itself being widely prevalent in gambling establishments all over. While the design is simple enough to easily run on platforms like mobile, it offers a flashy display of colors and animations to keep you interested.
The game of poker is also a popular trope in the movie industry made famous by figures like James Bond from Casino Royale, a movie with a parental guidance rating of 13 and older. While being star struck, kids are well known to try and mimic what adults do. While not intentional, it should be considered an avenue where younger teenagers may opt to take a step in the wrong direction.
Balatro closely matches poker by offering the use of suits and many ways to win fictional dollars, which could enact the same feeling you would get when winning on a Monopoly board game. In contrast, Monopoly is a family-friendly franchise that doesn’t incite the risk of shifting to real gambling. While this thought may be critical to some, it’s just a cause for parents looking at all possibilities.
Balatro is treading a grey area with another feature known as the multiplier, another aspect that’s prevalent in the gambling industry. Acquired through the shop, these special cards can be bought with the in-game dollars, won or gotten through micro-transactions. While microtransactions are becoming mainstream, should it be coupled with an addictive poker-type card game?
Balatro walks a fine line between online gambling and gaming
With online gambling becoming more and more immersive through platforms like Virtual Reality (VR), the format is also known to house popular titles like Beat Saber that teenagers spend much of their time on. Could Balatro be the link that bridges younger audiences with the confidence to try and play real wagering? Since the subject hasn’t been properly studied, it boils down to no concrete evidence backing these arguments.
The game is currently available with a PEGI rating of 12 and older, an age range that was cautiously curated. Balatro is a well-crafted title by LocalThunk, a game designer who accomplished much in a very short time. While impressive in its own right, the game will continue facing scrutiny from parents who do not approve of the rating. Balatro could easily be changed to an official gambling card game; that much is true.
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