The developer behind the popular deck-building game Balatro has taken legal measures to ensure that his creation will never be used to promote real-world gambling.
Balatro, a roguelike game, involves players accumulating chips by using joker-enhanced cards to defeat various challenges and opponents, including ‘blinds’ and final round bosses. Despite its use of gambling terminology and luck-based mechanics, the game contains no actual gambling elements or microtransactions.
LocalThunk, the creator of Balatro, has announced on social media that he has included a clause in his will to prevent the game from being sold or licensed to any gambling-related entity.
In a recent update, LocalThunk explained, “This may seem unusual, but I’m adamant about keeping Balatro separate from actual gambling. I’ve made it clear in my will that the Balatro intellectual property can never be transferred to any gambling company or casino.”
This move addresses previous concerns and jokes about Balatro being a gateway to gambling for younger audiences. The game faced scrutiny shortly after its release on February 20, 2024, leading to its temporary removal from several digital platforms, including the Nintendo Switch store, after a rating board adjusted its age rating from 3+ to 18+.
