So, when do I unlock the ability to win real money???

[Aegix Drakan]

Like, the PEGI rating says it has actual gambling in it, when do I unlock that part of the game???

I just wanna start getting rich being a Balatro Pro! It's the whole reason I bought the game! Did PEGI lie to me or something??

[Squidstone]

So first thing you've got to do is give this comment a bunch of awards, once it gets enough I'll spill the beans on what John Balatro's bank info is

[fheadx]

You need to take the poker skills that Balatro bestows upon you and go to the casino, Where you will crush the poker games.

[Arikado]

When I played a flush five with aces of spades at my local parlor while blasting Motörhead, everyone cheered... for the security to crush my pair of diamonds. Scrambled eggs/10. would not recommend.

[Aegix Drakan]

Originally posted by Squidstone:

So first thing you've got to do is give this comment a bunch of awards, once it gets enough I'll spill the beans on what John Balatro's bank info is

Alrighty, here you go~

[Razör]

Homie wants that nan-inf bank account

[A bear]

Once you get C++ you unlock the ability to bring a random joker with you to a real casino. They are honor bound to accept the rule changes made by it.

[Aegix Drakan]

Originally posted by fheadx:

You need to take the poker skills that Balatro bestows upon you and go to the casino, Where you will crush the poker games.

Originally posted by A bear:

Once you get C++ you unlock the ability to bring a random joker with you to a real casino. They are honor bound to accept the rule changes made by it.

Oh boy oh boy! I can't wait to try that tonight! I even have my 5 Lucky Aces and drew some Mult Lines on a King card (that I got totally legit in the game, don't worry). :D

[ulzgoroth]

To be excessively fair, the dumb thing PEGI said is that Balatro teaches gambling, not that it contains gambling.

[Goblin]

Originally posted by ulzgoroth:

To be excessively fair, the dumb thing PEGI said is that Balatro teaches gambling, not that it contains gambling.

But it doesn't, it teaches poker. Poker is a game, betting money on poker is gambling. I've played poker with friends plenty of times, never for money.

[Aegix Drakan]

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Originally posted by fheadx:

You need to take the poker skills that Balatro bestows upon you and go to the casino, Where you will crush the poker games.

Originally posted by A bear:

Once you get C++ you unlock the ability to bring a random joker with you to a real casino. They are honor bound to accept the rule changes made by it.

Oh boy oh boy! I can't wait to try that tonight! I even have my 5 Lucky Aces and drew some Mult Lines on a King card (that I got totally legit in the game, don't worry). :D

Hey, soooo, it's not working? Everyone at the poker table laughed at me??

The guy who deals the cards also yelled at me when I threatened to tell the manager.

He's talking to two big guys in suits and pointing in my direction, should I be worried???

[Goblin]

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Oh boy oh boy! I can't wait to try that tonight! I even have my 5 Lucky Aces and drew some Mult Lines on a King card (that I got totally legit in the game, don't worry). :D

Hey, soooo, it's not working? Everyone at the poker table laughed at me??

The guy who deals the cards also yelled at me when I threatened to tell the manager.

He's talking to two big guys in suits and pointing in my direction, should I be worried???

Nah don't worry, they're just impressed at your achievement and arranging you a place at the pros' table.

[Wardryx]

They put gambling on it because it simulates gambling. I don't see why people have issues with this.

[MagnusMcKay]

Originally posted by Tenacious Warden:

They put gambling on it because it simulates gambling. I don't see why people have issues with this.

Because, as stated by the dev, games with actual gambling (loot boxes) get rated 3+ by PEGI all the time.

[fheadx]

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Oh boy oh boy! I can't wait to try that tonight! I even have my 5 Lucky Aces and drew some Mult Lines on a King card (that I got totally legit in the game, don't worry). :D

Hey, soooo, it's not working? Everyone at the poker table laughed at me??

The guy who deals the cards also yelled at me when I threatened to tell the manager.

He's talking to two big guys in suits and pointing in my direction, should I be worried???

Did you upgrade high card scoring? Pairs are monster hands, too, if upgraded a lot. You can do it!

[Xaelon]

Originally posted by Tenacious Warden:

They put gambling on it because it simulates gambling. I don't see why people have issues with this.

PEGI claiming Balatro is like poker is like saying Tetris is like a jigsaw puzzle.

Tetris and traditional jigsaw puzzles are definitely the same because they're about putting pieces in the right spots right?!

Balatro only resembles traditional poker in the first 2 blinds. After that any similarities go out the window. Just think about going to a casino and trying to play Poker like it's Balatro if it's so similar. I'm sure the dealer will love it when you start throwing down jokers, removing cards from your deck and swapping card suits around. Yeah I'm sure that'll go down real well.

Meanwhile Gatcha games and other stuff with actual paid lootboxes or similar monetization schemes (ie gambling that involves real money, but doesn't win real money) gets "kid friendly" ratings. Surely you can see how backwards that is.

Games that kids can gamble and lose REAL money playing are apparently more socially acceptable than something wearing a poker t-shirt.