Swiss Regulator Questions If FIFA's Conditional Ticket Tokens Qualify as Gambling

Switzerland's gambling regulator, Gespa, has initiated a preliminary investigation into FIFA's blockchain-based "Right-to-Buy" (RTB) tokens for the 2026 World Cup, questioning whether the digital assets may constitute a form of gambling under national laws. The tokens, sold via FIFA's collect.fifa.com platform, grant holders conditional rights to purchase tickets for specific matches if their selected national team qualifies for the tournament's later stages. Gespa director Manuel Richard stated that the regulator cannot rule out the possibility that the offering "may be relevant under gambling legislation" and is conducting further fact-finding to determine if regulatory action is warrantedtitle1^[1]. No formal complaints have been received, but the structure of the tokens-priced between $299 and $999 depending on team odds-has raised legal uncertaintiestitle2^[2].

The RTB tokens, marketed as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), are not tickets themselves but provide guaranteed access to purchase tickets at face value if conditions are met. For example, the "Right to Final" token for England, sold out at $999, only grants a ticket if the team reaches the final. Critics argue that the model resembles a lottery, as most tokens will likely result in no tangible value for buyers, given the low probability of teams advancing to later stagestitle3^[3]. Over $15 million has been generated from RTB sales to date, with tens of thousands of tokens sold, according to reportstitle4^[4]. This revenue stream represents a small fraction of FIFA's projected $11 billion in total World Cup-related income but highlights the financial stakes in the Web3 experimenttitle5^[5].

FIFA introduced the RTB program to address surging demand for high-profile matches, which saw 23 million ticket requests for 3.4 million available seats during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The tokens aim to create a more predictable allocation system, with prices reflecting team performance likelihoods. Favorites like Brazil, Argentina, and England command higher prices, while underdogs are sold at lower costs. However, the resale of tokens on secondary markets has introduced speculative elements, with critics warning that the trading dynamics mirror gambling behaviorstitle6^[6].

The regulator's scrutiny extends to FIFA's technological infrastructure. The organization migrated its NFT platform from Algorand to Avalanche in May 2025 to enhance scalability and user experience, leveraging Avalanche's EVM-compatible AvaCloud stack for better integration with digital wallets. This move, along with the launch of a dedicated Avalanche Subnet for handling traffic spikes, underscores FIFA's commitment to blockchain-based fan engagementtitle7^[7].

Potential regulatory outcomes could have broader implications. If Gespa concludes that the RTB tokens fall under gambling laws, it could mandate sales suspensions or block access to the platform in Switzerland. Legal experts suggest other jurisdictions, including EU members and the U.S., may follow suit, given the global nature of the World Cup and FIFA's Web3 initiativestitle8^[8]. The investigation also highlights growing regulatory caution around tokenized assets, particularly those with conditional value tied to uncertain events.

FIFA has not been accused of wrongdoing and declined to comment on the probe. The organization emphasizes that RTBs are designed to manage demand and enhance transparency, not to facilitate gambling. Meanwhile, industry reactions remain divided: supporters view the tokens as innovative loyalty tools, while critics warn of consumer risks and reputational harm to the crypto spacetitle9^[9].