{"id":282555,"date":"2023-07-26T07:45:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T12:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=282555"},"modified":"2023-07-26T12:53:54","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T17:53:54","slug":"report-finds-link-between-shady-online-casinos-roblox-and-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/report-finds-link-between-shady-online-casinos-roblox-and-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Casinos, Roblox, and Children Linked in Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are reportedly some online casinos that allow players to use Robux, the in-game currency of the video game<\/a> Roblox, and they don’t make an effort to check the age of the users. The gambling platforms are also going a step further, allegedly recruiting content creators as young as 14 to attract more teenage gamblers.<\/p>\n

\"An
An image of characters in the Roblox video game. Underage children may be using in-game currency to gamble on questionable sites. (Image: Roblox)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An article on the Sharpr substack, run and published by Cody Luongo, asserts that Roblox has become a gateway to underground gambling. The report alleges that children are able to bet millions of dollars on the sites.<\/p>\n

It turns out that there is a “handful of black market<\/a> casino sites aggressively targeting the franchise’s youthful audience and facilitating illegal gambling services,” according to Luongo. Apparently, there are some sites within Roblox that allow users to log in with their respective accounts, deposit Robux, and then wager them on luck-based casino games.<\/p>\n

Starting Young<\/h2>\n

Robux is a form of in-game currency in Roblox that opens the doors to many options. With it, gamers can purchase more games within Roblox, purchase exclusive and private in-game servers, or buy bonuses and game add-ons.<\/p>\n

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Players can either buy Robux with real currency or earn it through gameplay. The concept is similar to that of loot boxes<\/a> and microtransactions, which have been the subject of debate around the world because of their links to gambling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Sharpr article, “Kids are gambling millions of dollars on Roblox casinos,” explains that one of these sites has a Discord server where they raise your charge based on the money you bet. The report emphasizes that the casinos that aren’t authorized by, or related to, Roblox.<\/p>\n

Luongo added that none of the sites will try to verify the age of players who gamble. Statista data<\/a> shows that 62% of Roblox gamers are 16 years old or younger, which automatically associates many children with casinos and gambling. Twenty-eight million of all Roblox gamers in the first quarter of the year were under 13.<\/p>\n

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yep (i\u2019m 14 btw!!) pic.twitter.com\/GU6QLs9RAd<\/a><\/p>\n

— DarkkHayden (@darkkhayden) January 21, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n