Is Your Child Unknowingly Laundering Money?
Editorial: How Gaming ‘Coins’ Became a New Frontier for Financial Crime
Every parent knows the unyielding grip of "pester power." It often begins with a desperate plea from a child, urging them to understand why a particular game skin, weapon, or character is crucial for their social standing. For many, the urge to maintain peace leads them to spend hundreds of rands on Fortnite V-Bucks or Roblox Robux, but this seemingly small price comes with bigger implications.
Beneath these innocent microtransactions lies a shadowy parallel economy that processes billions of rand annually. In this high-stakes environment, where money moves freely without oversight, financial criminals lurk, ready to exploit the system.
While South African banks and financial institutions have taken significant strides to fortify their defences against money laundering—especially under the looming threat of grey listing until October 2026—online gaming platforms remain largely unregulated and chaotic. Although they handle substantial financial transactions like a typical financial system, they often lack the safeguards needed to protect users.
This creates the perfect opportunity for criminals. Alarmingly, they are increasingly targeting vulnerable children, grooming them to carry out their illicit schemes. It's time for us to recognise the hidden dangers in our children's gaming habits and advocate for stronger regulations to protect them from exploitation.
Source: Hawken McEwan. (23 January 2026). Is Your Child Unknowingly Laundering Money? How Gaming ‘Coins’ Became a New Frontier for Financial Crime.
