October 23 – Switzerland’s gambling regulator Gespa has filed a criminal complaint against FIFA over ‘FIFA Collect’ NFTs, alleging elements of lotteries and sports betting.
In a statement, Gespa, which also oversees lotteries and sports betting, said that: “During the investigation, suspicions were confirmed that collect.fifa.com offers gambling services that are not licensed in Switzerland and are therefore illegal. Gespa is obliged to notify the competent prosecution authorities if it becomes aware of violations of the Federal Act on Gambling.”
Earlier this month, Gespa began its investigation following a query into the token sales from Bloomberg News. The complaint follows growing criticism from fans over the soaring costs associated with the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Last year, FIFA began selling “Right to Buy” tokens through its platform, giving fans an early opportunity to secure tickets for the 2026 tournament.
The Athletic reported earlier that fans complained that the RTB tokens ultimately only granted access to tickets in the most expensive price categories. The ‘Right to Final’ token, tied to certain conditions, cost $999.
“Participation in the competitions is only possible in exchange for a monetary stake, with monetary benefits to be won. Whether participants win a prize depends on random draws or similar procedures. From a gambling law perspective, the offers in question are partly lotteries and partly sports betting (Right to Final),” wrote Gespa.
The regulator is required to inform the relevant prosecuting authorities if it becomes aware of any breaches of Switzerland’s federal gambling law.
FIFA have been contacted for comment.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]