Balatro's Confusing Rating Finally Changed, Leads To Europe Changing How It Rates Gambling Games

The PEGI board has announced that it has reversed its decision to classify Balatro with a PEGI 18 rating and will instead have a PEGI 12 rating. The game has a E10+ rating in North America, making its original PEGI 18 classification in Europe strange.

As revealed in an update on the PEGI website, Balatro's European publisher, Sold Out Sales & Marketing, successfully appealed the PEGI 18 classification. While the board originally classified the game as PEGI 18 due to explaining various poker hands, the more fantastical elements mitigated the "gambling" aspects and brought the rating down to PEGI 12.

Another game, Luck Be A Landlord, also got its PEGI 18 rating reduced to PEGI 12. In this game, players can attempt to pay their rent by using a customizable slot machine and has similar roguelike gameplay elements as Balatro. Since Luck Be A Landlord had no specific gambling skills that could be transferred to the real world, the game was able to achieve its new rating classification.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Topics

Final push for votes in Germany election as frontrunner vows to lead in Europe

Germany's rival political leaders take their fight for votes right to the last minute before a pivotal election.
BBC News - 2d
How Kash Patel may change the FBI

This morning marks the first full day in office for new FBI director Kash Patel. The longtime vocal Trump ally arrived at his new office Friday. Sweeping changes are expected under his leadership.
CBS News - 2d
How animals can help fight climate change

It's widely known that humans' use of fossil fuels has contributed to the increase of planet-warming greenhouse gases. But animals might hold a key in combating climate change. Researchers on ...
CBS News - 2d
5 Photos Show How the Ukraine War Changed

On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tyler Hicks, a war photographer for The New York Times, looks back at five photos he took during the conflict and reflects on how the rules ...
The New York Times - 10h
Balatro - Game Pass Announcement Trailer

Balatro is available on Xbox Game Pass starting today! This release comes alongside the 4th "Friends of Jimbo" update, bringing exciting new collaborations with titles like Critical Role, Bugsnax, ...
GameSpot - 1h
EastEnders gets ratings bump for 'flawless' live episode

The show, which saw viewers vote for two storylines for the first time, received praise from critics.
BBC News - 3d
Robot M.L.B. Umpires Are Here, and They’re Going to Change the Game

Those who have experienced the automated ball-strike system say major leaguers are in for a shock.
The New York Times - 3d
Macron and Starmer Have Played Trump’s Game Before, but the Rules Are Changing

The leaders of France and Britain are both due to meet with President Trump this week. Approaches previously tried with him may no longer work.
The New York Times - 1d
How Friedrich Merz Will Try to Lead Europe Despite a Weakened Hand

The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump.
The New York Times - 1h
Japan's inflation rate climbs to a 2-year high of 4% in January, supporting rate hike calls from BOJ members

Core inflation — which excludes prices of fresh food — rose to 3.2% from 3% in the prior month and beat economists' expectations of 3.1%, according to a Reuters poll.
CNBC - 3d
How an American takeover could change James Bond forever

Long-serving masterminds Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson give creative control to Amazon.
BBC News - 4d
A.I. Is Changing How Silicon Valley Builds Start-Ups

Tech start-ups typically raised huge sums to hire armies of workers and grow fast. Now artificial intelligence tools are making workers more productive and spurring tales of “tiny team” success.
The New York Times - 4d
The biggest takeaways from Germany's election, which will bring change to the EU's leading power

Germany faces its second change of leader in less than four years after the head of the center-right opposition won Sunday’s election
ABC News - 7h
Trump removes Ice chief amid apparent frustration over rate of deportations

Caleb Vitello reassigned as administration reportedly unhappy at slow rate of arrests and deportations. Donald Trump’s presidential administration has reassigned its top official at US Immigration ...
The Guardian - 2d
Trump holds 52 percent approval rating after first month in office

President Trump holds a 52 percent approval rating in after his first month back in the Oval Office, polling shows. A Harvard CAPS/Harris survey found that 33 percent strongly approved of the ...
The Hill - 2h
Ohio State, Nebraska among teams eschewing spring games as part of college football's changing offseason

Here's a rundown of every major college football program that's switching up or eliminating its spring game
CBS Sports - 2h
Did the Covid-19 Pandemic Change How You Travel? Let Us Know.

The pandemic was declared in March 2020, shutting down travel for months. How did the lockdowns, and then the surge in demand, change the way you travel?
The New York Times - 3d
Balatro Is Now On Game Pass With New Fallout And Assassin's Creed Collaborations

LocalThunk has revealed that Balatro is now on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, along with the fourth Friends of Jimbo pack. This pack includes collaborations with Fallout, Assassin's Creed, and more.. ...
GameSpot - 2h
Interest Rate Cuts on Hold Till Inflation Improves, Fed Meeting Minutes Show

Officials are debating when to restart interest rate cuts, as high prices linger and Trump’s policies add to economic uncertainty.
The New York Times - 4d
Lower mortgage rates may tempt home buyers. But these fast-rising phantom costs could sneak up on them.

Mortgage rates are down to a nearly three-month low. But if you’re thinking of buying a home, beware of these hidden costs.
MarketWatch - 3d
Where did the home buyers go? 7% mortgage rates sap any remaining energy from the housing market

Home buyers are still struggling with affordability, the National Association of Realtors said.
MarketWatch - 3d
Stock investors stopped freaking out over interest rates. Now this threat is re-emerging.

Investors appear to be doing a lot less hand-wringing over higher interest rates lately, but plenty of market risks are still coming up on the horizon.
MarketWatch - 1d
ECB faces risk of ‘sleepwalking’ into too many rate cuts, says top official

Rate-setters need to stand ready to pause further monetary easing, Belgian central bank governor says
Financial Times - 15h
Column: With 2025 SAG Awards, Netflix proved it isn't solving awards season ratings crisis

The awards show with the largest percentage of famous faces failed to grow its audience in 2024 when it made its Netflix debut. It's tough to imagine it will do so this year.
Los Angeles Times - 14h
DeShon Elliott apparently changes tune on Aaron Rodgers

After word emerged that the Jets will be parting ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and folks started connecting dots between Rodgers and Pittsburgh, Steelers defensive back DeShon Elliott had an ...
Yahoo Sports - 4d
'Sad' Silva expects City changes at end of season

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva expects his club to make changes at the end of a "very frustrating" season.
ESPN - 3d
Fortnite Map Changes In Chapter 6 Season 2

The new Fortnite map is here, giving the island a GTA-like makeover with several tightly-packed city elements, Black Markets to shop at, and new vehicles driving around with lots of loot up for ...
GameSpot - 3d
Changing stripes: Yanks OK well-groomed beards

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner announced Friday that his organization was relaxing its long-standing facial hair policy to allow "well-groomed beards."
ESPN - 3d
Changes coming to FBI under Kash Patel's leadership

Kash Patel was sworn in as the controversial new FBI director under President Trump. Scott MacFarlane breaks down the changes coming for the department.
CBS News - 2d
The Postal Service’s History Amid Trump’s Threats to Change It

Trump has mused about privatizing the postal service.
Inc. - 2d
Trump Uses Lies to Lay the Groundwork for Radical Change

Condoms for Gaza? Ukraine started the war with Russia? The president’s manipulations of the truth lay the groundwork for radical change.
The New York Times - 1d
Trump has changed Ukraine conversation, Starmer says

The PM suggests Trump has "created an opportunity" to end the war, ahead of a trip the the US.
BBC News - 7h
New Mercedes a 'significant change', says Russell

George Russell says he is "optimistic" that Mercedes "can have a decent season" in 2025 as the team launch their new car.
BBC News - 6h
Trump changed conversation on Ukraine ‘for the better’, says UK

Sir Keir Starmer reiterates that Britain is ‘ready and willing’ to put troops on ground in Ukraine to secure peace
Financial Times - 2h
Golden State Was a Mess. Jimmy Butler Changed Everything.

It’s clear that Butler’s presence has helped Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. But his impact goes far beyond aiding the Warriors’ superstars.
The New York Times - 37m
NFL mulling one of these two rule changes to new kickoff; league could also make drastic change to onside kick

The league requires 24 of the 32 owners to approve any rule changes
CBS Sports - 7h
4 Nations final ESPN's most-watched hockey game

The 4 Nations Face-Off championship game between the United States and Canada on Thursday night marked the largest audience for a hockey game on ESPN.
ESPN - 2d
Crunchbase’s AI can predict startup success with 95% accuracy—will it change investing?

Crunchbase pivots to AI-powered predictions engine with 95% accuracy for startup funding rounds, abandoning historical data in favor of predictive intelligence that forecasts acquisitions and ...
VentureBeat - 5d
SEC, Big Ten to push for seeding changes to 2025 College Football Playoff

The two leagues will push CFP executives to alter the seeding of the upcoming postseason, aligning the seeds based directly on the selection committee’s rankings.
Yahoo Sports - 4d