The Hidden Cost of Your Child’s Favourite Game

You might have caught some worrying and alarming headlines this week. Perhaps one like this: Illegal casinos are targeting children on Roblox. 

If your child plays Roblox,  and tens of millions of children do, a headline like that can be a real worry and concern.   A recent Sky News investigation found that illegal online casinos have been using the platform to lure children into gambling, and more than a year after some of these operators were first publicly exposed, they’re back. One even emailed journalists to announce its return.

But you don’t need to be a gamer or a tech expert to help protect your child. You just need to know what to look for.  In our latest blog, we wanted to explain where the real financial risks sit and give you four simple things you can do this week to make gametime safer.

Games Aren’t What They Used to Be

Many of us grew up with games, too. You bought a cartridge or a disc, brought it home, and played Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, or Street Fighter until your thumbs hurt. There was nothing more to buy. No loot boxes. No virtual currency. No websites trying to get at your pocket money. The fun was self-contained, sometimes shoulder to shoulder with a real-world friend; the game you paid for was the game you got.

Today’s games, including Roblox, work very differently. The game itself is often free, but it’s built around ongoing spending. That isn’t always a bad thing, but it does mean the rules of the road have changed since we were children. If your instinct is telling you “this feels different to what I grew up with”, you’re right. It is.

What Is Roblox?

Now, you might not be familiar with Roblox, but you have probably heard the name; maybe your child is talking about it.  Roblox isn’t a single game. Think of it more like YouTube, but for games. It’s an online platform where millions of small games, built by other users, many of them young people themselves, sit side by side, and players can jump between them in seconds.

A few things worth knowing:

• It’s enormously popular with children, especially those aged 7–14.
• Players use an in-platform currency called Robux to buy items, outfits, and upgrades.
• Robux is bought with real money, usually topped up through an app store or a gift card.
• Players can chat with others in-game, which raises its own safety considerations.

The platform itself is free to join. The spending happens inside individual games.

Loot Box Style Purchases: When Spending Feels Like a Game of Chance

This is where things get tricky.

Many Roblox games include purchases where your child doesn’t know exactly what they’ll get. They spend Robux on a “mystery egg,” a “crate,” or a spin of a wheel — and the outcome is random. They might get something rare and exciting. They might get something they already have.

Why this matters:

• It’s designed to keep them coming back. The randomness creates the same excitement loop you’d find on a slot machine.
• The cost is hidden behind a currency. “500 Robux” doesn’t feel like real money the way £5 or $5 does.
• Children chase the win. If a rare item is just out of reach, it’s natural to keep trying, and that’s where the spending can really add up.

Researchers and regulators in several countries have flagged these mechanics as structurally similar to gambling, particularly when used by young players. Some countries have started restricting them.

You don’t need to ban your child from these games. But it helps to know they exist, and to talk about them openly.

The Third-Party “Robux Casino” Problem

This is separate from Roblox itself, but it’s worth knowing about because it’s where bigger financial losses tend to happen.

Outside the official platform, there are unofficial websites, sometimes called “Robux casinos”, that let users gamble their Robux on things like coin flips and jackpots. They aren’t run by Roblox. They aren’t licensed gambling sites. And they often appeal to children.

Why parents should care:

• They can drain Robux balances quickly. A child who’s earned or been gifted Robux can lose it all in minutes.
• They ask kids to log in with their Roblox account. This can expose the account to hacking or theft.
• Children may not realise they’re gambling. It looks like just another game.

If your child mentions sites with names like “Bloxflip,” “RBXFlip,” or anything offering to “win free Robux,” that’s the category we’re talking about.

Four Things You Can Do This Week

Remember, you don’t need to be a tech expert to make a real difference. Here are four practical steps:

1. Turn on parental controls and a spending limit. Inside Roblox account settings, you can set up a Parent PIN, restrict who your child can chat with, and limit the types of games they can access. Just as importantly, set a monthly spending cap through your app store (Apple, Google, or Microsoft) — this caps Robux purchases at a level you choose.

2. Use gift cards instead of a linked bank card. If your card is saved to the account, in-game purchases can add up without you noticing. A Roblox gift card gives your child a fixed budget — when it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s also a great way to teach budgeting.

3. Have a short, calm conversation about loot boxes and “free Robux” sites.  Just ask: “Do any of your games make you pay for surprise items?” and “Have you ever seen sites that promise free or extra Robux?” Listen first. Children are far more likely to come to you with problems if they don’t feel judged.

4. Sit with them for ten minutes a week. Watch them play. Ask them to show you their favourite game. You’ll learn more in ten minutes than in any article — and you’ll spot things (in-game ads, chat messages, purchase prompts) that don’t show up from the outside.

For many children, it’s a creative, social, genuinely fun space. The goal isn’t to take it away — it’s to make sure the design choices inside it don’t quietly cost your family money or shape spending habits which could impact your young person further down the road.

If you would like further help

👉 Download the Parents App for clear step by step guides and practical guidance
👉 Book a one to one session with me to help with any questions or guidance you might need

Stay safe online.

Wayne

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