Illegal Casinos Exploit Roblox to Entice Children into Online Gambling | Science, Climate & Tech News

A Sky News investigation has revealed that illegal online casinos are leveraging Roblox, one of the leading video games globally, to entice children as young as 12 into online gambling.

Warning: This article contains references to suicide.

These unlicensed casinos permit children of any age to register using their Roblox accounts, enabling them to wager in-game currency (Robux) on various games such as slots and blackjack.

Players can withdraw their winnings in cryptocurrency, which can then be converted to real cash.

With around 80 million daily active users, Roblox is among the most favored video games, particularly appealing to children—approximately 42% of its users are estimated to be 12 years old or younger.

One 16-year-old Roblox player in the US told Sky News that he gambled approximately 15 million Robux (around £150,000), starting when he was just 14, well below the legal gambling age in his jurisdiction.

“My mother tried to get me to stop, but I didn’t listen,” Robert* explains. “I enjoyed the thrill of making larger bets.”

He was unaware at the time that he was participating in a criminal act.

“I thought it was a way to earn extra money,” he shares. “I didn’t even know what gambling really was.”

Sky News’ investigation spotlighted three of the largest Robux casinos—BloxFlip, Bloxmoon, and RBLXWild. Together, these sites attract about 2.8 million visitors monthly and facilitate millions of pounds in bets.

In reaction to Sky News’ findings, the Gambling Commission has commenced an urgent investigation into the Robux casinos and has blocked access to them within the UK.

“Criminals continually seek out new avenues to exploit individuals, including children,” stated Andrew Rhodes, the chief executive of the regulator, in an interview with Sky News.

Sky News obtained data from Bloxmoon, revealing that users have lost a total of $11.4 million (£8.9 million) since the site’s launch in late 2022.

This data incorporates bets placed on RBLXWild since July 2024, when it was acquired by Bloxmoon.

Between April and October 2024, bettors engaged in $22.3 million worth of wagers. The casinos’ operators kept $2.2 million as revenue after paying out $20.1 million in winnings. This results in an average daily revenue of $10,281 (£8,149).

Other casinos might be earning even more. Among the eight casinos identified by Sky News, BloxFlip is the most frequented, garnering an average of 2.7 million visitors monthly, according to web analytics firm SimilarWeb.

BloxFlip announced its permanent closure less than 36 hours after Sky News shared its findings with both the casino and Roblox.

“Roblox’s legal team has started to apply pressure for us to shut down our platform,” a co-owner of BloxFlip informed users in the casino’s official chatroom.

“No more luring in minors and instilling early addictions,” one bettor, who reportedly wagered over 10 million Robux (£100,000) on the site, responded.

A Roblox spokesperson stated to Sky News that the casinos are “not endorsed or authorized by Roblox” and that the company has undertaken “numerous measures to disrupt their operations, which contravene our Terms of Use.”

“We have a specialized team dedicated to identifying possible fraudulent activities on Roblox and we collaborate with law enforcement when feasible to pursue the owners of such websites,” the spokesperson elaborated.

“We have achieved some success, but we would appreciate additional action from law enforcement and vigilance from web hosting companies to take down sites like this.”

Unlicensed casinos lack safeguards

Robert mentioned that he began gambling on BloxFlip after encountering an advertisement on social media.

“Initially, I deposited around 100 Robux (£1)—just a small amount to test it out,” he states.

“I lost it immediately. I then added more in an attempt to recover my loss, only to lose again. Eventually, I kept adding more.”

Before long, he was gambling with friends on a nightly basis.

On one occasion, he recounts, a friend threatened to end his life after losing 20,000 Robux (£200) during a single spin of the roulette. It was unclear if he was serious, but the group opted not to alert any adults for fear of exposing their gambling practices.

“We just tried to soothe him ourselves,” Robert remembers.

Dr. Jane Rigbye, chief executive of the underage gambling charity YGAM, emphasizes the dangers posed by unlicensed casinos. She states they have “no safeguards in place” and are thus “potentially far more hazardous, both financially and mentally,” than regulated establishments.

“When children are introduced to gambling at a younger age, it heightens the likelihood of facing gambling issues later in life,” she cautions.

‘No one was concerned’

Robert believes the websites’ staff are fully aware that many of their users are underage, based on discussions in the official Discord chatroom.

“There were users [in the Discord group] casually mentioning their age in conversations with moderators and site developers,” he relays. “They didn’t care. Nobody was concerned.”

In the BloxFlip Discord, users who have placed at least a million Robux (£10,000) in wagers can earn “Whale” status, complete with a special whale emoji next to their username. Those who wager at least 10 million Robux (£100,000) can qualify for “Platinum Whale” status.

At least four Whales and two Platinum Whales have openly acknowledged their underage status in the Discord group.

“I was here since I was 12 [years old], lol I’m 14 now,” wrote one bettor, who has shared screenshots indicating that he wagered at least 1.1 million Robux (£11,000) on the site.

Another user, who has wagered over 17.5 million Robux (£175,000), stated he turned 16 in November.

He added, “Is it worse that I’m an underage gambler and I have plat whale status?!?!”

A staff member identified as the “head of community” even acknowledged that one “Whale” was underage. After the user revealed his height, the staff member responded: “You’re 14, right? You probably have some growing to do.”

The user’s screenshots indicate he has gambled more than 5.2 million Robux (£52,000) on the platform.

Roblox faces lawsuit over the websites

The platform is currently combating a class-action lawsuit in the US filed by the parents of five minors who engaged with these casinos.

The lawsuit, initially filed in August 2023, was granted permission to move forward in September 2024, following a judge’s decision that Roblox must respond to the parents’ claims of negligence.

“They were aware of the situation for years and did nothing,” claims James Bilsborrow, the attorney leading the lawsuit against Roblox.

“Roblox has built a digital playground for children—that is the platform’s purpose,” he says. “They have a responsibility to safeguard these children.”

Court records reveal Roblox has been cognizant of BloxFlip and RBLXWild since at least April 2022, when they contacted the websites’ hosting services requesting a takedown.

Only in October 2024 did Roblox initiate legal action against the gambling websites, accusing them of infringing on its copyrights and breaching its terms of service.

Roblox has denied any wrongdoing and claims it “utilizes various techniques to detect and dismantle bot accounts” linked to the gambling websites.

The plaintiffs are also pursuing legal action against the gambling sites, though thus far, no owners of the sites have responded to the lawsuit.

A BloxFlip owner informed users in the chatroom that “many companies face lawsuits,” adding it is “a part of the business.”

Removing the websites

The Bloxmoon website was only taken offline on November 26 after Sky News alerted the Gambling Commission, which proceeded with its own removal request to the site’s hosting service.

A flood of users filled Bloxmoon’s official chatroom, with one querying if the site had been “taken down by the government.”

However, within 36 hours, the site reappeared at a slightly altered web address. RBLXWild also faced takedown only to resurface at another new address.

These websites continued to garner thousands of dollars worth of bets until December 2, when users began reporting that the site was blocked in various countries, including the UK.

One staff member advised users in the chatroom that they could bypass the block using free software to mask their location.

“Should you be unable to access the website, please utilize [the software]; certain regions may be temporarily blocked,” a team member commented in the chatroom. “We are overseeing the situation.”

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who heads a parliamentary committee focused on gambling-related issues, asserts that these casinos will persist as a risk if the owners evade accountability.

“The key is to eradicate them completely so they can’t simply shift domains,” states Sir Iain. “There needs to be stronger authority to identify these individuals, arrest them, and hold them accountable.”

Andrew Rhodes, the chief executive of the Gambling Commission, comments that the regulator is endeavoring to uncover the true identities of the casino operators.

“Ultimately, illegal casino owners are criminals,” he asserts.

“They are backed by organized crime syndicates and are entrenched in the criminal underworld. It is crucial for all of us to work together to thwart their activities.”

This responsibility falls upon parents, who, according to Mr. Rhodes, need to be “diligent” regarding their children’s online activities. However, platforms like Roblox should also implement measures to protect their users, he added.

“They must be aware that criminals are always searching for ways to exploit children and others and be conscious of that risk.”

‘The thrill became all-consuming’

Robert notes he stopped gambling after realizing it had turned into an obsession.

“The thrill I felt from gambling on a Roblox casino overshadowed everything else,” he admits.

He regrets introducing his friends to the activity, particularly one friend for whom gambling is against religious beliefs.

“He was aware he shouldn’t be engaging in it, but the thrill was enough to keep him coming back,” Robert remembers. “Sadly, he lost everything in one night.”

While he has distanced himself from Roblox gambling permanently, he envisions gambling at a legal casino in the future.

Would he have thought that way if he had never experienced gambling with Robux?

He contemplates for a moment. “Probably not.”

Individuals experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts can reach out to Samaritans for support at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. For those in the US, please contact the local branch of Samaritans or dial 1 (800) 273-TALK.

If you are concerned about your gambling or that of someone close, you can visit BeGambleAware.org for free, confidential advice and support, or reach out to The National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133, available 24/7.

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*Not his real name

The Data and Forensics team focuses on delivering transparent journalism at Sky News. We collect, analyze, and visualize data to narrate data-driven stories. By integrating classic journalistic methods with advanced analysis of satellite images and social media, we aim to enhance understanding of the world while showcasing our journalistic process.