Online gaming platform Roblox is facing another lawsuit as the company has been accused of facilitating child gambling on its platform by two mothers from California.
Despite being an online gaming platform, Roblox also provides the option to create different gaming experiences, and it is no surprise that many of these are premium or have monetary aspects attached to them. While including monetary elements is one thing, encouraging gambling to kids is illegal and controversial.
Roblox uses an in-game currency called Robux. Using this as a bait, kids are lured into visiting off-platform gambling websites that utilize Robux to gamble for in-game items. Websites like RBXFlip, Bloxflip and RBLXWild were named in the lawsuit utilizing this predatory method.
These websites usually have a variety of gambling options like, Robux stock betting, guess games and case opening that promise either reward items or extra returns on Robux. Not only the external website, but games within the Roblox realm also offer in-game gambling and betting through virtual loot boxes that can only be opened with Robux and currency trading.
According to the lawsuit Roblox is alleged to have full control over the flow of the currency, thus also being aware of these third-party websites and games on its platform. “Roblox could, of course, prohibit and/or stop the Gambling Website Defendants from utilizing the Roblox ecosystem and digital currency to facilitate illegal gambling, but it does not,” the lawsuit states, as per TechCrunch.
Since the games are free to play, many bad actors, even if they get banned, can easily make a comeback to conduct their predatory practices. While the company claims that it is not affiliated with these external websites, it does help them make profits through Robux sales.
The company has claimed that it will work on curbing these illegal betting operations, but seeing that Roblox has previously faced several similar lawsuits it is safe to assume that it had plenty of time to take necessary actions but did not do so.