Why Playing Roblox Is Like Kids Being ‘on Meth’

Article By Connie Chang

Experts warn that casino-style mechanics may fuel kids’ gambling habits

The mechanics of many games on the platform are nearly identical to those of slot machines and sports-betting apps.

Parents may think their kid is just building blocky worlds on Roblox, but a new deep dive in the Atlantic suggests they might actually be learning how to love a slot machine. Journalist Connie Chang lays out how “cute” games on the platform are wired with casino-style mechanics—think loot boxes that open to reveal hidden rewards, “limited drop” events, and pay-to-win perks—that keep kids glued to screens and primed for gambling-like behavior.

Dad Peter Galassi compares his 9-year-old’s obsession with hatching virtual eggs for rare pets with having “a son who was on meth,” as meltdowns and broken tablets piled up. Chang talks to addiction experts who say these “variable-reward loops” closely resemble those used in adult gambling apps—and that kids’ still-developing brains may be especially susceptible.

“There is evidence showing that the earlier that a child is exposed to social media, the more likely they are to get addicted to social media,” says Stanford’s Anna Lembke. Same for drugs and booze, she notes. “So we can infer from that that the earlier they’re exposed to gambling, the more likely they are to get addicted to gambling.”

Researchers are only starting to understand whether these game structures translate into problem gambling later on, but early evidence and rising calls to helplines have regulators and advocates worried. Roblox disputes claims it’s running a kiddie casino, pointing to age-based accounts and anti-gambling policies.

But critics say the core money-making design remains. “It’s hard for me to not believe that … we’re not priming these kids to just dump their money into FanDuel the second they have a checking account,” Galassi says. 

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