Parents of children who play the popular online gaming platform Roblox have filed an amended class action lawsuit against the company, accusing it of enabling an online gambling scheme that targets children.
The lawsuit, which was initially filed in February, alleges that Roblox allowed users to create games that mimic casinos and other forms of gambling, which can be easily accessed by children as young as six years old. The parents claim that these games encourage children to spend real money in order to purchase virtual currency, which can then be used to gamble and potentially win more virtual items or currency.
The amended complaint, filed in a federal court in California, accuses Roblox of knowingly allowing these games to exist on its platform and profiting from them through the sale of virtual currency. The parents claim that Roblox has failed to implement proper age restrictions or parental controls to prevent children from accessing these games, which are designed to be addictive and enticing to young users.
The lawsuit also alleges that Roblox has failed to adequately monitor and regulate the content on its platform, allowing developers to create and distribute games that encourage underage gambling without proper oversight. The parents are seeking damages for negligence, unjust enrichment, and violation of California consumer protection laws.
In response to the lawsuit, Roblox has stated that it takes the safety of its users, especially children, very seriously and has measures in place to prevent inappropriate content from being published on its platform. The company has also emphasized that it strictly prohibits any form of gambling or other illegal activities on its platform and continues to monitor and remove any offending content.
However, the parents argue that Roblox’s efforts are not enough to protect children from potentially harmful content and activities on the platform. They are calling for stricter regulations and measures to ensure that children are not exposed to online gambling or other dangerous content while using Roblox.
The lawsuit comes at a time when online gaming and virtual economies are becoming increasingly popular among young users, raising concerns about the potential risks and dangers that can arise from unregulated platforms like Roblox. As the case moves forward in court, it will be interesting to see how the legal system addresses the issue of online gambling targeting children and what measures may be put in place to protect young users in the future. Overall, the parents’ allegations against Roblox raise important questions about the responsibility of online platforms to safeguard the well-being of their young users and prevent them from being exploited for profit.
