Roblox CEO David Baszucki has sparked intense backlash after endorsing the concept of prediction markets on his platform—a gaming service predominantly used by children.
During an appearance on the New York Times’ Hard Fork podcast, Baszucki responded enthusiastically when asked whether he would implement betting features on Roblox, calling it a “brilliant idea” despite the obvious concerns about exposing minors to gambling mechanics.
The controversial exchange began as what appeared to be a joke question from podcast co-host Kevin Roose, who asked if kids should be allowed to bet with Robux, Roblox’s virtual currency.
Rather than dismissing the suggestion outright, Baszucki engaged seriously with the concept, acknowledging the legal complexities around “loot boxes and kid gambling” across different countries.
When Roose clarified that he thought it was “a horrible idea,” Baszucki doubled down, insisting it could work “if it can be done in an educational way that’s legal.”
The CEO painted a picture of what he called a “dress to impress predictor” game with no monetary prizes, arguing he would “be a big fan of it.” His characterization of child gambling as “very fun and obvious” drew immediate criticism, especially given Roblox’s ongoing struggles with child safety and a user base that skews heavily toward minors.
This isn’t Baszucki’s first controversial stance. He has previously pushed to introduce dating features and adult content to the platform, initially insisting on making such content available to 17-year-olds before eventually being pressured to restrict it to adults 18 and older. Critics have questioned why a platform built for children needs dating services or mature content at all, particularly given Roblox’s documented problems with predators targeting young users.
The “Hard Fork” interview, which Roblox reportedly initiated to discuss child safety, quickly became contentious. Host Kevin Roose talked about the interview in a series of social media updates on Twitter.
This week’s Hard Fork might be the craziest interview we’ve ever done.
We asked the CEO of Roblox about the child safety issues that have been plaguing the platform. His response was…well, just listen.https://t.co/VBjvLmPYP7
— Kevin Roose (@kevinroose) November 21, 2025
When questioned about predators on the platform, Baszucki stated he views the issue “not necessarily just as a problem, but an opportunity as well”—a statement many found tone-deaf given the numerous lawsuits alleging the company has failed to adequately protect minors. He later rejected characterizations that Roblox has become a hunting ground for predators, claiming the company is “doing an incredible job at innovating.”
The timing of Baszucki’s gambling endorsement is particularly troubling given emerging research on the harms of widespread betting access. A recent UCLA-USC study examining 7 million Americans found that legalized mobile sports betting has triggered severe financial consequences, including credit score drops, an 8% increase in debt sent to collections, and a 28% spike in bankruptcies. The research suggests that constant access to online gambling accelerates financial ruin, with researchers warning about long-term consumer debt crises.
For Baszucki to suggest introducing gambling mechanics to children—even in an ostensibly “educational” format—demonstrates what critics describe as a fundamental disconnect from both parental concerns and mounting evidence about gambling’s destructive potential.