19 December 2024 | 17:44

Illegal casinos found in popular children's game Roblox

Screenshot from Roblox

Tengrinews.kz - The globally popular children's game Roblox has come under scrutiny following an investigation that uncovered illegal online casinos targeting children as young as 12, according to Sky News.

Tengrinews.kz - The globally popular children's game Roblox has come under scrutiny following an investigation that uncovered illegal online casinos targeting children as young as 12, according to Sky News.

The UK Gambling Commission has launched an investigation and taken action against "criminal" platforms that use Roblox to lure minors into gambling. These platforms allow children to register using their Roblox credentials and place bets in the game's currency, Robux. Winnings can be converted into cryptocurrency and then exchanged for real money.

One case involved a 14-year-old boy from the United States who gambled approximately 15 million Robux, equivalent to about 99.8 million tenge.

"My mother tried to get me to stop, but I didn't. I just liked the adrenaline of doing bigger and bigger bets,” the teenager told Sky News, admitting he did not realize his actions were illegal.

The investigation highlighted three major casinos: BloxFlip, Bloxmoon, and RBLXWild. Together, they attracted approximately 2.8 million users monthly and processed millions of dollars in bets. Since its launch in 2022, Bloxmoon alone has reported user losses exceeding $11.4 million. Following the report, BloxFlip and other casinos ceased operations.

"The legal team representing Roblox has begun to apply pressure compelling us to close our platform," one casino owner stated in an official chat.

Roblox representatives clarified that these gambling platforms are "in no way endorsed or authorized” by the company. Roblox is cooperating with law enforcement to combat the issue.

Experts warn that such casinos pose significant risks for children due to the lack of regulation and safeguards. Some teenagers involved in gambling have experienced severe psychological effects, including suicidal thoughts.

The controversy has also led to a class-action lawsuit against Roblox by parents of five children, accusing the company of negligence. They claim that Roblox has been aware of the issue since 2022 but failed to take adequate measures.

Roblox remains one of the world’s most popular games, boasting 80 million daily active users, 42% of whom are children under 12.

Earlier, Kazakhstani citizens were warned about dangerous children's toys ahead of the New Year.

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