- Illegal online casinos are using the popular children's game Roblox to allow underage users to gamble using the in-game currency Robux.
- These unlicensed casinos, such as BloxFlip, Bloxmoon, and RBLXWild, let children as young as 12 sign up using their Roblox accounts and bet Robux on games like slots and blackjack.
- Winnings can be withdrawn as cryptocurrency and then converted to real cash, enabling underage gambling.
- One 16-year-old user reported betting around 15 million Robux (£150,000) on these sites starting at age 14.
- The casinos have little to no age verification measures, and even openly acknowledge having underage "Whale" and "Platinum Whale" users who have bet millions of Robux.
- The Gambling Commission has launched an investigation and blocked the sites from operating in the UK, but the owners have been able to quickly move the sites to new domains.
- Roblox is facing a class action lawsuit from parents alleging the company failed to protect children from these illegal gambling sites, despite being aware of the issue.
- Experts warn that unregulated gambling sites pose serious financial and psychological risks, especially for young users.
- Regulators and law enforcement are struggling to effectively shut down these illegal operations and hold the owners accountable.
- Parents are urged to be vigilant about their children's online activities and gaming habits, while platforms like Roblox are criticized for not doing enough to safeguard users.
Illegal casinos are using Roblox to draw children into online gambling | Science, Climate & Tech News | Sky News
Source:
news.sky.com