Illegal Casinos Targeting Kids Shut Down  

Two illegal casinos, Bloxmoon and RBLXWild, which exploited children by allowing them to gamble using Roblox logins, have permanently shut down following a Sky News investigation.

These platforms ceased operations on Tuesday, as confirmed by Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the UK Gambling Commission. “We will always take action against illegal gambling sites and are pleased these sites have ceased operations,” Rhodes stated.

He also urged parents to remain vigilant, warning that criminals continually target vulnerable individuals.

The unlicensed casinos targeted Roblox players through social media ads and enabled users, regardless of age, to log in with Roblox credentials. Users gambled Roblox’s in-game currency, Robux, and converted winnings into cryptocurrency, which could easily be turned into cash.

Roblox, one of the world’s largest video games with 80 million daily players, is particularly popular among children, with 42% of users under 13.

Sky News interviewed a teenager, Robert (not his real name), who gambled approximately £150,000 worth of Robux from age 14. Robert admitted he was unaware he was committing a crime, thinking it was just a way to earn extra money.

Following the investigation, the Gambling Commission blocked the two casinos in the UK, and they have now shut down permanently, offering refunds to users. A third casino, BloxFlip, closed less than 36 hours after Sky News presented its findings. A co-owner cited legal pressure from Roblox as the reason for the closure.

Dr. Jane Rigbye, CEO of Ygam, welcomed the closures, highlighting the severe risks these platforms posed to children. She called for stricter regulations and better education to prevent such harms. Despite the shutdowns, a US class action lawsuit against the casinos remains active, with lawyer James Bilsborrow stating they must account for the damage caused.

Roblox commended the decisive actions, pledging continued vigilance against fraudulent platforms exploiting their users. The Gambling Reform APPG also urged Roblox to implement stronger measures to protect children from similar risks in the future.

Source: Sky News