Is Roblox secretly designed to make kids gamble?

3w ago1 min read

My 9 year old has been asking for Robux constantly and I finally looked into what he's actually spending it on. Feels like loot boxes and cosmetics where you gotta keep buying stuff hoping for rare items. Like it's literally gambling mechanics but targeted at kids. Found out he'd somehow spent money without my permission. Now I'm nervous about letting him play at all but all his friends are on there and I don't want to be that dad who completely bans it. How are you guys managing this?

8 comments165 views

Comments(8)

NNathan K.New Dad2w ago

Oh man, welcome to the Robux nightmare. Yeah it's basically designed exactly like a casino for kids. The whole rewards system and limited-time stuff triggers FOMO like crazy. I had to sit down with my 7 year old and literally show her where the money was going. Now she gets a set allowance for Robux and that's it.

MMatt B.Regular3w ago

Dude, YES. I had the exact same realization with my 9 year old. Started looking into what Robux actually cost and nearly fell over. It's designed to be addictive on purpose and kids have zero concept of real money spending. Definitely need to have the conversation about what he's actually buying.

DDerek M.Regular2w ago

This is one of those things that makes me grateful we caught it early. Have you looked into turning off the ability to purchase anything without your password? That's what saved us from ongoing charges on my account.

MMike T.New Dad3w ago

The psychology behind it is wild. It's basically gambling mechanics dressed up as a game. My kids aren't on Roblox yet but I've been reading about this exact thing. You're not being overprotective by being upset about it.

KKyle M.Regular3w ago

Roblox is predatory as hell. The free-to-play model preys on kids who don't understand money yet. I've had friends' kids rack up hundreds of dollars in charges. Honestly I just banned it from my house after seeing what was happening.

NNathan K.New Dad3w ago

It's not a secret, it's completely intentional. They make their money off in-game purchases and they've engineered everything to maximize spending. Your 9 year old doesn't stand a chance against those designers. Set hard limits now before it gets worse.

KKyleRegular3w ago

Your post reminded me why I'm scared of my son getting into gaming. This is the stuff that keeps me up at night.

SSam K.New Dad3w ago

Roblox is a minefield. The constant cosmetic upgrades and limited time offers are straight out of the mobile game playbook. I've basically told my kids it's a nice to have if they earn it, not a given. Seems harsh but the alternative is worse.