Swiss Regulator Says FIFA Token Sales Break Gambling Rules
Swiss gambling authority Gespa has filed a criminal complaint against FIFA over its blockchain-based tokens. Gespa says selling “right-to-buy” tokens on the FIFA Collect platform counts as illegal gambling.
The complaint comes after an investigation, confirmed two weeks ago, into whether the tokens broke Swiss gambling laws. At first, Gespa said there wasn’t enough reason to stop the inquiry. But a recent Bloomberg report says the regulator now believes the tokens act like gambling, partly as lotteries and partly as sports betting.
Gespa must report gambling violations to prosecutors and can order companies to stop breaking the law.
FIFA launched these tokens in 2024. They let holders buy World Cup tickets if their favorite team qualifies. The program earned FIFA millions, but critics say the high cost and limited access to tickets make the tokens almost useless. Many token holders may end up with digital assets that cannot be used after the event and have little to no value.
