Report: Link found between illegal online casinos and Roblox as Gambling Commission enters fray

A Sky News investigation has found that illegal casino operators are using Roblox to entice children into online gambling. 

The unlicensed casinos allow children of any age to sign up via their Roblox accounts and bet Robux, an in-game currency, on games such as blackjack or slots. 

Players are then able to withdraw winnings as cryptocurrency, which in turn can be converted into real cash, according to the broadcaster’s report.

Roblox boasts an estimated 80 million daily active users, 42% of which are believed to be aged 12 or under. 

As part of the investigation, three casinos in the form of BloxFlip, Bloxmoon and RBLXWild were all scrutinised and it was determined that the trio of sites receive 2.8 million visitors per month, overseeing millions of pounds worth of bets. 

The in-game currency is designed for users to purchase in-game items such as clothes and can be bought for real money at a rate of £1 per 100 Robux. 

It has been alleged that when a user creates an account on any of the aforementioned casino sites using their Roblox credentials, the casino is then granted access to the linked Roblox account. 

While some sites were found to have asked the user if they were over the age of 18, none attempted any sort of age verification. 

Afterwards, the casino is able to transfer the user’s Robux to a separate Roblox account under its control and provide the user with an equivalent number of virtual gambling chips on the casino’s website. 

The chips can be used to play casino games such as roulette and blackjack, as well as being exchanged back into Robux or withdrawn as cryptocurrency. 

A Roblox spokesperson told Sky News that the company does not endorse the casinos nor are they authorised by the game, and has taken “numerous steps to disrupt their activity, which violates our [Roblox] 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,” the spokesperson added. 

“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.” 

Sky News were able to access data from Bloxmoon, which showed that since the site’s launch in late 2022, users have lost a combined total of $11.4m (£8.9m), including bets placed on RBLXWild since July of this year, when the site was purchased by Bloxmoon in July 2024.

Over the course of a six-month period this year, total bets amounted to $22.3m, with $20.1m paid out in winnings and the remaining $2.2m kept as revenue. 

Of the eight casinos identified as part of the investigation, BloxFlip was determined the most popular in terms of site visits, with 2.7 million visitors every month (as per analytics company SimilarWeb), though the casino has since confirmed it is permanently closing down, with the announcement made less than 48 hours after the findings were published. 

Meanwhile, Bloxmoon went offline on 26 November, shortly after the Gambling Commission had been notified, with the regulator sending the site’s hosting provider a takedown request. 

Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes told Sky News the authority is working to identify those behind the illegal casinos. 

“At the end of the day, illegal casino operators are criminals,” he said. 

“They’re supported by criminal gangs and are part of the criminal underworld. It’s important all of us play our part in trying to frustrate them.” 

Rhodes went on to urge parents of children who play Roblox to remain “vigilant”, while insisting those overseeing the game servers also need to ensure safeguarding practices are followed. 

“They have to remember that criminals are always trying to find ways to exploit children and others and be alive to that risk,” Rhodes added.