UK blocks illegal casinos using this popular game to draw kids into online gambling – Times of India

Illegal online casinos are reportedly using the popular video game Roblox which has millions of young users, to lure children into gambling. According to a report by Sky News, these unlicensed casinos, which are not officially part of Roblox, allowed children to sign up using their Roblox credentials and bet with in-game currency (Robux) on games like slots and blackjack. These betting sites then allowed kids to convert their winnings into cryptocurrency and ultimately real money. These sites raise concerns about child safety and the potential for exploitation on the platform, which boasts an estimated 80 million daily active users, with 42% believed to be aged 12 or under. Responding to the report, the Gambling Commission of UK launched an investigation into the Robux casinos and blocked them from the country.

How these illegal casinos operate in Roblox

Roblox’s in-game currency, Robux, is intended for purchasing virtual items and experiences within the game. However, these illegal casinos were reportedly exploiting this system by allowing users to connect their Roblox accounts and gamble with their Robux.
Despite minimal age verification measures, these casinos were able to access users’ Roblox accounts and transfer their Robux in exchange for virtual gambling chips. These chips were then used to play casino games and then converted back into Robux or even real money through cryptocurrency exchanges.
The report also shared data from one illegal casino operating on Roblox, Bloxmoon, which revealed that users have lost £8.9 million ($11.4 million) since its launch in 2022. Between April and October 2024 alone, the casino generated £ 1.7 million ($2.2 million) in revenue.
Other casinos may be making even more, with BloxFlip being the most popular, attracting 2.7 million monthly visitors, the report added. However, BloxFlip shut down less than 36 hours after the findings of the report were presented to the casino and Roblox.

What Roblux said about these illegal casinos

In a statement to Sky News, a spokesperson for Roblox said that the casinos are “in no way endorsed or authorised by Roblox” and that the company has taken “numerous steps to disrupt their activity, which violates our Terms of Use”.
“We have a dedicated group focused on identifying potentially fraudulent activity on Roblox and we work collaboratively with law enforcement authorities where possible to pursue the owners of such websites. Our efforts have met with some success, but we would welcome further law enforcement action and vigilance from web hosting providers to shut down sites like this,” the spokesperson added.