Balatro’s Controversial PEGI 18 Rating Revised Due to ‘Alleviating Fantasy Elements’

The European rating board PEGI has revised its contentious PEGI 18 classification for the fantastical (read: highly unrealistic) roguelike deck-builder, Balatro.

Following an appeal made by Balatro Special Edition publisher Fireshine Games (which operates under the name Sold Out Sales), the independent PEGI Complaints Board has concluded that Balatro should be reclassified as PEGI 12.

“The PEGI 18 classification for the title ‘Balatro’ has been amended to PEGI 12 after a successful appeal put forth by publisher Sold Out Sales & Marketing,” states an update on the PEGI website.

“The Complaints Board determined that, while the game discusses various poker hands, the roguelike deck-building game included mitigating fantastical elements that justified a PEGI 12 rating.”

Adding further clarification, PEGI mentioned that its classification system “continuously adapts” in line with cultural expectations and the independent experts who guide and support its evaluation process.

The rating organization—which evaluates titles in over 35 regions, including France, Italy, and the UK—indicated that it will now reassess how simulated gambling is classified in order to adopt a more nuanced approach in the future.

“At present, any instruction or glamorization of simulated gambling automatically results in a PEGI 18 rating,” it specified.

“Based on these appeals, the PEGI Experts Group will create a more detailed set of classification criteria to address gambling themes and the simulation, education, and glamorization of gambling across different age categories, which will now include 12 while still maintaining 18 for games that simulate gambling typically experienced in casinos and betting venues.”

The reclassification of Balatro has led to Luck Be A Landlord, which also features deck-building and simulated gambling mechanics, being reclassified as PEGI 12.

PEGI defended the reclassification by stating that the title incorporates “no specific transferable gambling skills.”

Balatro developer Localthunk has yet to comment on this news publicly. The developer previously referred to PEGI’s decision to impose an 18 rating as an instance of “comedy.”

“Just to clarify—the rating of 3+ for these titles with actual gambling mechanics aimed at children annoys me more than Balatro receiving an 18+ rating,” they stated at the time. “If these other titles were rated accurately, I’d gladly accept the quirky 18+. The red logo looks kind of cool.”

Unfortunately for Localthunk, the PEGI 12 label replaces red with a distinctly less appealing burnt orange.

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