The popular game Roblox is being used by predatory gambling operators to target underage users. After an investigation by Sky News, an urgent inquiry by the UKGC has begun. Here’s what you need to know.
Roblox is a colourful, constantly changing world of online games that are mostly free and often made by amateur developers. It appeals particularly to children who gather to play the latest releases on smartphones, iPads, and computers while chatting in text with friends and strangers.
In recent years, Roblox has grown rapidly, having reported a doubling of its daily users from 2020 to 2023, but it remains in the red. While most of the games are free, users can buy extras within games using Roblox’s own currency, Robux. Roblox also has a premium subscriber service and adverts.
Now, a dark side to the fun online game has been revealed thanks to an investigation by Sky News.
Illegal Casinos Target Underage Roblox Users
British youth are being drawn into gambling by illegal online casinos that are using the video game Roblox to attract underage users to their websites.
An investigation by Sky News revealed that a network of illegal casinos is allowing children to gamble using their accounts on Roblox. The websites have been accused of allowing Roblox users to use their game credentials to sign up and bet using in-game currency to gamble on slots and live casino titles within their online casino platforms.
When users create an account on the casino's website using their game credentials, the casino gains access to their Roblox account. Some online casinos ask users to tick a box to confirm they are over 18 or even enter a date of birth but do not conduct actual age verification.
The illegal casino then transfers the user’s Robux to another Roblox account under its control, offering in exchange an equivalent number of virtual gambling chips on the casino's platform.
These virtual gambling chips can be used to play before being exchanged for Robux again or converted into cryptocurrency. The crypto can then easily be converted into cash.
The investigation by Sky News revealed that one 14-year-old user in the US had gambled around 15 million Robux, amounting to around £150,000. Sky also identified eight online casinos, naming BloxFlip, Bloxmoon, and RBLXWild in their expose - sites that gather around 2.8 million users each and garner millions of pounds worth of bets.
UK Gambling Commission Launches Urgent Investigation
Following the Sky News investigation, the UK Gambling Commission has launched an urgent inquiry into the Robux casinos and has blocked United Kingdom users from accessing them.
Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the UKGC stated:
“Criminals will always try and find new ways to exploit people, including children. At the end of the day, illegal casino operators are criminals. They’re supported by criminal gangs and are part of the criminal underworld. It’s important that all of us play our part in trying to frustrate them.’’
In conclusion - Roblox is now fighting a class-action lawsuit in the US brought by the parents of five children who used these casinos. The lawsuit proceeded in September 2024 after a judge ruled that Roblox had to answer the parents’ accusations of negligence.
The parents suing Roblox are also taking legal action against the illegal gambling websites, but so far, none of the gambling websites’ owners have responded to the lawsuit.
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