Philippine Police Step Up Enforcement on Online Gaming Apps Used by Minors

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Philippine National Police has intensified enforcement related to online gaming platforms following fresh alerts regarding child safety, cybercrime, and gambling-like features. Roblox has come under scrutiny in this initiative, though police noted that the broader investigation extends to other gaming and social media applications as well.

Good to Know

• PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group to increase efforts against illegal activities associated with online gaming apps.
• Philippine officials are collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.
• Roblox reports having over 111 million daily active users worldwide, with approximately 40% of users aged under 13.

Philippines Widens Focus on Roblox and Online Gaming Risks

While Roblox may be the most prominent name in focus, the recent actions by Philippine authorities extend beyond a single platform. Police stated that illegal behavior connected to gaming apps now requires a more robust cybercrime response, particularly in cases where minors might be subjected to grooming, exploitation, or gambling-style mechanisms that obscure the boundary between gameplay and betting.

This broader concern holds significance for iGaming and digital platform operators, as regulators now view game design, social interaction, and child safety as interconnected rather than distinct issues. In the Philippines, police tied the current enforcement push to reports indicating that certain platform features could expose minors to “sexual predation, grooming and exploitation of minors.” Officials also highlighted gambling-like features as part of the risk profile.

Roblox is notable due to its size and youthful user base. Company data released in 2025 indicated an average of 111.8 million daily active users, with roughly 40% of users under 13 in 2024, based on company reports referenced in media coverage. For regulators, such figures heighten the urgency. A platform with such a large number of minors will confront more rigorous scrutiny when random rewards, virtual goods, and social communication tools coexist within the same environment.

The police are not operating in isolation. The Philippine National Police mentioned that investigations are being coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. This provides the initiative with a more extensive enforcement foundation and indicates that authorities are addressing platform misuse, online child exploitation, and digital safety measures collectively rather than as separate issues.

Roblox has already faced scrutiny in other markets regarding child safety. In February 2026, Australia’s eSafety agency stated it had informed Roblox of direct testing related to safety commitments, citing persistent concerns about online child grooming and sexual exploitation. Roblox also implemented enhanced messaging and age verification measures in late 2024 and early 2026, including stricter chat controls for younger users and age checks for chat access.

The gambling aspect of the debate presents an obvious area of concern. Critics have long contended that randomized rewards, purchasable virtual items, and layered in-game currencies can resemble gambling to minors, particularly when younger users do not fully grasp how these systems function. Academic and policy critiques of loot box-style mechanics have expanded this debate beyond casinos and sports betting platforms, into mainstream gaming regulation.

PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr stated: “Our mission to serve and protect the public now includes cyberspace to ensure their safety, particularly for children. This is what modern policing entails, and your PNP has been adapting accordingly.”