Money in games: Robux, V-Bucks, loot boxes and avoiding surprise charges

Why game money doesn't feel like money

Most popular games are free to download and earn money through small purchases inside the game. Kids usually buy a game currency first, like Robux in Roblox or V-Bucks in Fortnite, and then spend that currency on outfits, upgrades or items.

That extra step matters. A 2022 study from Loughborough and Newcastle universities followed 42 families in England with children aged 5 to 17. The researchers found that young players had trouble keeping track of their spending and didn't grasp the real value of the money involved. Items designed to be collected also encouraged repeat buying. One of their recommendations was to show in-game prices in real money.

None of this means your child is careless. The design makes spending easy and hard to feel. That's why settings and conversation both help.

Loot boxes: what they are and why people worry

A loot box (also called a mystery box, pack or chest) is something a player pays for without knowing what's inside. The reward is random, so a player may buy again and again hoping for a rare item.

Loot boxes get scrutiny because of their similarities with gambling. In the Loughborough and Newcastle study, families described compulsive spending, shame when kids looked back on how much they had spent, and frustration when they didn't get the item they wanted.

In Québec, the National Assembly's special commission on screens and young people recommended in 2025 banning paid loot boxes and microtransactions in games aimed at minors. That's a recommendation to the government, so check whether the rules have changed since. For now, the most reliable protection is the settings below.

Turn on approvals, device by device

Each store and console has its own setting, and one doesn't cover the others. Set up every device your child plays on. Menus can move between versions, so if a label looks different, check the company's help page.

• iPhone and iPad (Apple Ask to Buy): When your child tries to buy or download something, a request goes to the family organizer or a parent in the family group. If you dismiss it or don't approve it within 24 hours, your child has to ask again.
• Android (Google Play with Family Link): In Family Link, choose which purchases need your approval, such as all content or only in-app purchases. This covers purchases made through Google Play billing.
• PlayStation: In Family Management, each child account has a monthly spending limit. It starts at 0, so nothing can be bought until you change it. Purchases come out of the family manager's wallet, and any guardian you appoint can change the limit.
• Xbox: In the Xbox Family Settings app, you can add money to your child's account and turn on Ask to Buy, so you get a request when they want something they can't afford.
• Nintendo Switch: Spending restrictions are set in the parent's Nintendo Account, under the family group. You can block eShop purchases, or add a set amount to your child's account.
• Fortnite and other Epic games: You can require your Parental Controls PIN for real-money purchases through Epic. That PIN doesn't cover purchases made on consoles or V-Bucks already in the account. A separate setting lets you block spending V-Bucks on items with random rewards.
• Roblox: With a linked parent account, you can set a monthly spending limit and get a notification for every purchase. Roblox limits don't apply to purchases made through Xbox, or to gift cards.

Also check whether a credit card is saved on your child's account or on a shared tablet. Removing it closes the most common gap.

An allowance model for game spending

A firm "no purchases ever" often leads to sneaky workarounds or a friend's account. A small, set budget works better for many families, and it teaches real money skills.

• Pick an amount and a rhythm. For example, a set amount each month, loaded as a gift card or account balance. When it's gone, it's gone until next month.
• Convert to dollars together. Before a purchase, work out what the item costs in real money. Compare it with something they understand, like a movie ticket or a snack.
• Talk about loot boxes plainly. Ask how they feel after opening one. Point out that the game is designed to make them want one more.
• Let small mistakes teach. A regretted purchase on a small budget is a cheap, useful lesson.

If a big charge shows up anyway

It happens in lots of families, often by accident. Stay calm. The researchers noted that kids already feel shame about spending, and shame makes them less likely to tell you next time.

1. Find out where it was bought. Check your card statement and email receipts: app store, console store or the game itself.
2. Contact that store's support. Explain that a minor made the purchase. Refund policies differ and aren't guaranteed, but it's worth asking.
3. Close the gap. Remove saved cards, change the account password and turn on the approvals above.
4. Talk it through. Ask what happened, without blame, and agree on a budget going forward.