FIFA’s World Cup NFT platform faces criminal complaint from Swiss gambling regulator
The Block
Switzerland's gambling regulator filed a criminal complaint against FIFA's NFT platform for alleged illegal gambling operations.Summary
Geldspielaufsicht, the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (GESPA), has filed a criminal complaint against FIFA's World Cup-themed NFT platform, collect.fifa.com, alleging violations of Swiss gambling laws. GESPA claims the platform, which involves competitions with monetary stakes and cash prizes dependent on chance-based procedures, constitutes unlicensed lotteries and sports betting under Swiss law. The regulator notified authorities after an investigation, though the final determination of criminal liability rests with law enforcement. FIFA's NFT project, which launched for the 2022 World Cup and later migrated across different blockchains like Polygon, aims to democratize ownership of World Cup moments for fans.
(Source：The Block)