Sorare, a NFT fantasy football game is closing in on a multimillion deal with the Premier League in what will be a virtual edition of Match Attax’s or Panini’s World Cup stickers.
A Parisian start-up backed by tech investor Softbank, Sorare offers fans the ability to collect digital NFT’s of their favourite football players.
With many other leagues involved, and the backing of superstar Kylian Mbappe, the Premier League has now opened talks with the fantasy football game following failed talks with a rival provider.
Sorare offers users the chance to buy and sell unique cards allowing the ability to make a profit while building a team.
Touted at a £30mln per year deal, there are concerns nonetheless about the possible impact on young people and that it might be a soft introduction to gambling.
Footballing games such as FIFA, which are popular with young fans, have come under criticism for introducing addictive systems in which micro-transactions give players the ability to purchase ‘loot boxes’ unlocking better players.
Football Index was a similar idea involving customers gambling on footballers’ success by purchasing ‘stocks’ of a player, however, the site collapsed, with users finding that their money was gone too.
The Premier League’s deal could be completed in a couple of weeks, according to the reports today.