An Austrian court has ruledEA Sports’ popular FIFA packs as constituting a form of gambling and currently in violation of national law.
For those unaware, FIFA or ‘FUT’ Packs are a form of in-game microtransaction that features in the popular football sim’s Ultimate Team mode, where players build their dream squad and compete against other players online.
Despite being deemed not to be a form of gambling under UK law back in 2019, many parents and organisations remain concerned over the impact that these packs and other ‘loot boxes’ might be having on young people — i.e. encouraging children to gamble.
Now, after a significant ruling in Belgium back in May 2022 which brought loot boxes under national law, Austria has become the second European power to flag the practice as a form of gambling and an “illegal” one, at that. Loot boxes and microtransactions have been the subject of fierce debate for years.
With the likes of avid FIFA player turned YouTuber Jonathan Peniket having previously told the BBC how he blew more than £3,000 in university savings on FUT packs, even going on to make a video explaining how his addiction developed, his case is just one of many gone wrong.
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As per German outlet Games Wirtschaft, the court ruled that FIFA packs violated the country’s gambling laws and according to lawyer Ulrich Salburg, plaintiffs suing EA alleged that they had “gambled away” hundreds of euros on packs with uncertain monetary value, violating the Austrian Gaming Act.
According to the report, claims from players range from anywhere between €800 and €85,000 in the most extreme case and following the decision, Sony have been ordered to pay affected gamers around £299.35 in refunds while EA must clearly label FUT packs as “gambling games that require a license”.
It’s unclear whether FIFA packs sold via other gaming platforms will be examined and Sony can still appeal the decision. Neither Sony nor EA are yet to issue a statement regarding the ruling.
UK Parliament carried out a more detailed investigation into the loot boxes back in February and while they still do not fall under the Gambling Act of 2005, the House of Lords have been calling for loot boxes to be brought within the scope of the Gambling Commission since July 2020.
On the other hand, it has been reported that despite the Belgian ruling a few years back, the legislation still isn’t being properly enforced throughout the country and whether or not a crackdown in Britain will have the desired impact remains to be seen.
One million UK adults who have never smoked before are now vaping, new stats reveal
Emily Sergeant
More than a million UK adults who claim to have never smoked cigarettes are now vaping.
According to alarming new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), relating to people aged 16 and over, around 2.8 million men (11.3%) and 2.1 million women (8.2%) are thought to be smokers in the UK… but more than a million people, who have never smoked before, have now made the decision to start vaping instead.
People in the 25 to 34 age group were found to be the most likely to vape, according to the data, overtaking those aged 16 to 24, as it was the only age group to see a rise in e-cigarette usage.
Daily or occasional vaping is still higher than the proportion of people smoking cigarettes too, the ONS revealed, at 5.4 million, or 9.9%, versus 4.8 million (8.7%).
One million UK adults who have never smoked are now vaping / Credit: Lil Artsy (via Pexels) | Pxhere
“Fewer than one in 10 adults now smoke,” commented David Mais, from the ONS.
“This is the lowest proportion on record and continues the long-term decline in smoking. [But] at the same time, e-cigarette use remains more common than smoking and has followed an overall upward trend since 2020.
“E-cigarette users are also getting older, with those aged 25 to 34 now overtaking 16 to 24-year-olds as the age group most likely to use them.
“This may reflect existing users getting older, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both.”
Overall, the prevalence of smoking dropped in all four UK nations between 2024 and 2025.
Featured Image – Elsa Olofsson (via Unsplash)
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Three Manchester motorways named in UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’
Emily Sergeant
Three motorways in and around Manchester have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And three of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Greater Manchester.
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Manchester is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M602, M62, and M60, the latter of which took the top spot on the list.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
Encircling Greater Manchester and linking many of the region’s motorways, the M60 recorded the lowest overall score in the index.
Despite handling significant volumes of traffic, the M60 experienced some of the highest average delays, at 15.58 seconds per vehicle per mile, and alongside this, it saw 34 collisions in the past year alone. But despite these challenges, the M60 remains an essential route for regional connectivity, and often cannot be bypassed.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
Danny Jones -
11th March 2023 
