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Read Full BioA 12-year-old from British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against Roblox over allegations that the platform uses “gambling-like mechanisms” to make users addicted.
The child, referred to as “D.J.” in the filing, began playing Roblox at the age of five or six. Using the platform has created a range of problems for D.J. The child’s father filed the suit and claims that his child has developed a range of issues.
The lawsuit states, “Symptoms include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, irritability and mood swings, impaired concentration and memory, emotional instability, anti-social behaviour, loss of interest in other activities, fatigue and low energy, inappropriate behaviour and language, and decreased social skills.”
D.J.’s father filed the claims on behalf of all Canadians who claim to be addicted to Roblox and all minors who’ve paid to join Roblox Premium. The lawsuit seeks damages and restrictions on Roblox’s marketing and operation in Canada.
Children Gamble on Games of Chance
The lawsuit criticizes Roblox for encouraging in-game purchases through its virtual currency, Robux. The platform encourages users to gamble using the virtual currency on games of chance. Users can play spin-the-wheel contests or open mystery boxes to win rewards.
In the filing, it states, “These chance-based merchandising systems are functionally equivalent to gambling in that they exploit psychological vulnerabilities by leveraging randomized reward structures.”
The child spent around $500 purchasing Robux. Although free-to-play, Roblox encourages users to buy the virtual currency to use in the game. There have been reports of children spending thousands of dollars on in-game purchases.
An 11-year-old girl in the UK made over 300 in-app purchases on Roblox in five days. This resulted in a £2,400 ($3,200) bill on her mother’s PayPal account.
The lawsuit argues that Roblox encourages game developers to make addictive games that encourage spending. It states, “Roblox does not simply allow microtransactions; it actively equips and incentivizes game creators with tools and monetization systems designed to drive increased spending by users.”
Robux Used to Play Casino Games
Robux can also be used at third-party sites, which allow users to gamble on casino-style games. Roblox is facing another lawsuit in California over accusations that it did not try to prevent users from gambling on these unregulated casino platforms.
Roblox attempted to dismiss the case, claiming that the casino games are not hosted on its platform and, therefore, it is not responsible. The plaintiffs, who are also parents of children, argue that at the very least, the company should have warned users about the risk of being lured to gamble at the casino sites.
A judge in the case partly agreed with Roblox, commenting that the site did not conduct a gambling operation. While some of the charges have been dismissed, the judge allowed claims of negligence to proceed. The case remains ongoing.
The lawsuit in Canada alleges that the games users can play on Roblox are also problematic. The games encourage risk-taking behavior, which can have a negative impact on children. Over 50% of Roblox users are under 16 years old, with approximately 20% being under 9 years old.
The B.C. Supreme Court has yet to certify the suit, which would force the corporation to respond.
