I was wondering if it is against Roblox ToS to incorporate gambling features for an in-game currency. This in-game currency can be obtained through Robux purchases (Developer Products). HOWEVER, players do NOT have to purchase these products to gain in-game currency, as they can earn it freely & naturally by doing various things in the game, without spending a SINGLE robux
With these circumstances, would this be considered a Roblox ToS violation? I couldn’t find a concrete answer with these circumstances given that the currency can be obtained naturally, but can also be purchased.
Essentially yes you can do have elements of gambling but no you cannot use robux or items with real world value. It also depends on how exactly your players are “gambling”.
For example egg hatching in pet simulator x technically falls under this since you can buy coins with robux, but roblox let’s it slide.
So you can earn in game money, and u can also buy in game money. That’ll work even you mean that you can buy something like a spinner spin to get money.
Unless this spinner has like a “you win nothing” slot or a “spin again” slot.
However, no real money, Robux, or in-experience items of value may be exchanged in connection with any gambling activities. We also require that the odds of winning be fair and clearly disclosed to the user prior to playing.
I would consider in-game currency to fall under the third detail “in-experience items of value”. Especially since Robux can be used to buy it, attaching a value to it. Since you intend to incorporate gambling features into the former. You may experience moderation action against your game and or account.
Further obfuscation of your gambling practices may be needed to avoid moderation penalty.
Great take. the OP should research other games using gambling practices and inform about their moderation track record. They can use social media and ask other people how they work around the gambling rules and or find out how lax or stern Roblox’s gambling enforcement is.
To add to this conversation, there is a game that I sometimes frequent (I am not going to mention the name here) that gives you a free spin each day on a loot wheel. After the free spin, it’s 99 Robux. This game also contains loot boxes for Robux, which is a form of gambling.
This is the section of the Terms of Use: Community Standards that @urgentnotice was referring to:
Another question to ask is can you trade items in game? If so, then there might be legal issues where your game cannot be played in certain countries. I mention that because there is a questionnaire that asks about this (I think Greece is a country that’s prohibited). I believe that is the same questionnaire that you answer to set the age rating for your game.
Let’s say perhaps I want an in-game casino, where players can use their in-game currency, which I’ll call cash, to gamble their money. However, since players can purchase this cash with Robux, it raises the overarching question of whether or not it is allowed. It also puts it in a gray area because players can also obtain his cash normally without spending robux doing various things such as robbing ATMs, doing civilian jobs, etc.
I am not aware of any other games that have this sort of system though. Most gambling games I am aware of use loot boxes or egg hatching as the gambling factor.
An in-game currency called cash is an in-experience item of value which you intend to connect with a gambling feature. In my opinion, you’re going to have a hard time because of impending moderation action if the above is present in your game.
If you are adamant about the implementation of a gambling feature into your game.
I recommend not directly giving the player the option to buy the in-game “cash” currency with Robux that they can use to gamble.
Instead, make two separate in-game currencies. Currency X can be used for the casino to gamble. Currency Y is a holding currency that can be bought with Robux or the player can get the currency via tasks within your game.
If you let the player convert currency Y to currency X. You may have distanced yourself enough from the Terms-of-Use ruling on gambling to avoid moderation action. Notice my use of the word may? I won’t give you a definite answer because I can’t be sure myself.
In conclusion, I think a gambling feature is only tolerated if it is hidden well enough.
So i am not certain if this would work or be against TOS however this was my idea to stay within the rules.
You can still allow players to buy in game currency, however in your datastore you will need to set it up as follows
All in game currency bought with robux, will be entered into datastore as “purchased money”
Next all freely earned money in game will be entered in the data store as “free money”
To display this to players simple make a gui add the 2 values and display that as cash
Next when entering the casino have a popup appear that wont allow the player to proceed until they click ok.
Have this popup state that the money you are able to use will only be the money you have made in game freely
Feel free to update the gui to only show “free money” while in the casino
Next at every table or game have a pop up appear that shows the percentage of winning, this is important as it must be fair odds and clearly shown to the players, every time they start to play
Please note moderation may check your code to confirm fair play, dont rig it.
For this all to work i highly suggest making it so in game pruchases that arent gambling, buying an item as an example. Take cash from the “purchased money” datastore value first.
I hope this helps and please proceed with caution as even with how concrete this sounds it may still be against the TOS in some way i am not informed of.
