Eve Online goes to war with gambling sites

CCP, the maker of space MMO Eve Online, is the latest developer to crack down on video game gambling websites.

It's taken action against IWantISK and EVE Casino, two of the largest websites offering Eve Online-related gambling. CCP accused IWantISK of being involved in large-scale real money trading, and has confiscated all currently held items and currency (ISK, or Inter-Stellar Kredits). Permanent account suspensions have been issued against those involved.

CCP issued a warning to other Eve Online gambling sites: shut down by 8th November or face a similar punishment.

As part of the crackdown, CCP has updated its license agreement ahead of a planned move to free-to-play, to stress that you can't use any Eve Online assets for gambling.

"You may not use, transfer or assign any game assets for games of chance operated by third parties," the license agreement will soon read.

"In short, this addition to the Eve Online EULA means that as of the launch of Eve Online: Ascension, players will be prohibited from using in game assets and currency, as well as the Eve IP, to take part in or promote gambling services or other games of chance that are operated by third parties," CCP said.

This new version of the EULA comes into effect on Tuesday, 8th November, with the launch of Eve Online: Ascension.

The affected websites remain defiant in the face of CCP's actions. The people behind IWantISK denied the website facilitated real money trading, and threatened CCP with legal action over lost virtual currency.

"We are also being falsely accused of RMT and if we cannot recover your ISK for you, we will pursue this legally as we have already found grounds," reads the message.

IWantISK even called on users to set up their own gambling site for use until 8th November, declaring it "Eve Gambles Month".

Eve Casino, however, sounds like it's accepted its fate. It shut down its chance-based game engines in a bid to avoid violating the license agreement, and issued a rather more diplomatic statement:

"We entrust CCP will be thorough in their investigation as they have in the past and we hope to have this resolved as soon as possible."

Video game gambling websites have hit the headlines in recent months after authorities in both the US and the UK started asking tough questions of developers.

Valve, maker of Steam, has clamped down on gambling websites associated with Counter-Strike and Dota 2, and a FIFA YouTuber was recently charged with promoting gambling using FIFA Ultimate Team coins after a Gambling Commission investigation.