Unlicensed Gambling Sites Exploit Roblox, Kiddopia’s New Partnership, Chess in 2025 Esports World Cup, and More Industry Updates
Unlicensed gambling sites are exploiting Roblox to lure children into high-stakes betting, with some teens losing massive sums of money. According to a Sky News investigation, these illegal online casinos allow users to gamble with Roblox’s in-game currency, Robux, on games like slots and blackjack, converting winnings into cryptocurrency or cash.
Sites such as BloxFlip, Bloxmoon, and RBLXWild have been linked to the platform, attracting millions of visitors and processing significant volumes of bets. The UK Gambling Commission has blocked several of these sites and launched an investigation into the matter.
One minor reportedly lost $190,000 worth of Robux while gambling, and Bloxmoon alone processed $22.3 million in bets between April and October 2024. Despite efforts to shut down these sites, some have reappeared under new domains.
In response to the issue, Roblox stated that it does not own or condone these gambling sites and is working with law enforcement to address the problem. However, the challenge remains as some sites continue to operate under different names.
In other news, Paper Boat Apps, the maker of Kiddopia, a popular learning app for children, has signed a licensing agreement with Moonbug Entertainment to integrate characters and storylines from the animated series Little Angel into its platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the educational experience for young users and expand Kiddopia’s offerings.
Additionally, Chess.com has partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation to launch a $1.5 million tournament featuring top players from the Champions Chess Tour. Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen will serve as an ambassador for chess at the EWC, promoting its integration into the esports world.
Furthermore, Niantic has partnered with McDonald’s to boost engagement in Pokémon GO by turning all 13,500 U.S. restaurant locations into PokéStops and Gyms. This initiative aims to drive in-game and foot traffic through scheduled Raid Weeks over four months.
Lastly, former Chinese Sports Minister Gou Zhongwen has been expelled from the Communist Party and dismissed from public office for corruption, abuse of power, and dereliction of duty. Gou, who oversaw sports policy from 2016 to 2022, was not considered a supporter of esports, which faces regulatory challenges in China.
In a lighter note, pigs have demonstrated the ability to play video games using their snouts in a study where they learned to use arcade-style joysticks to guide an on-screen cursor. Despite their limitations, the pigs showed remarkable learning abilities and continued playing even without food rewards.