If your kids use social media or play online games, they’ve probably seen ads for apps promising easy cash prizes. These ads often paint a picture of users making money just by playing easy games like bubble-bursting or solitaire. They suggest it's a way to earn enough to afford eating out whenever they want or buying all the cool stuff their friends have. Some suggest they can easily make hundreds of dollars a month this way.

Though not officially targeted toward kids, many of these real money games look simple and kid-friendly. But they create a false sense of easy money, never mentioning the likelihood of easy losses, and multiply the addictive nature of games kids already play. 

Educators and parents: Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet. (Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)

How do online pay-to-play games work?

• These money-earning games mimic games that are relatively low-skill like bubble-bursting games, solitaire, bingo, trivia, and dominos 
• Most have an age minimum of 17, but kids can often bypass it by entering a fake birthday
• They go by names like Solitaire Cash, Solitaire Clash, Bubble Cash, Cash Show, and others—any game that advertises real money prizes and are available on mobile devices in most app stores
• Introductory games are deceptively easy and designed to make the user feel like a pro. However, once the player gets past the trial phase and pays to enter cash tournaments, the game suddenly becomes much harder
• Entry fees for tournaments can range from less than a dollar to $10 or more
• Many games allow players to choose to play free games (with no cash winnings), but these tournaments are outnumbered by the others where players play for cash rewards
• Most apps allow users to pay using Apple Pay, PayPal, credit/debit card, or Venmo

Why do students want to play games for cash?

• Many kids are exposed to ads for these cash games on social-media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube and want to take advantage of the promise of easy money
• The games are highly addictive—small victories in the game lead players to believe they’re on the verge of winning. If they don’t win, they want to try again and again, sure that a payout is just around the corner
• The amount of money required to pay for tournaments can be very low—sometimes less than a dollar—but as users begin to play game after game in rapid succession, the output of cash adds up
• The games state they aren’t actually gambling because “the outcome of our Tournaments is based on the skill of the players, rather than luck or chance” (Source:  Bubble Cash)

Why should parents & educators care? 

• Kids and teens are more than twice as likely to develop a gambling disorder than adults (Source:  Parents). Even if theses gaming apps claim not to offer “gambling,” they share the same qualities and risks
• For kids, these games can introduce gambling-like behaviors, encourage in-app purchases, and create unrealistic expectations about making money from gaming
• In spite of the age minimum (which can usually be bypassed), the graphics of these games seem designed to appeal to kids
• The fast pace can also lure users to play games in rapid succession, with a new buy-in for every game
• Even if your child never plays a game-for-cash, they’re being exposed to the promise of easy money through the ads. This could make them more likely to try it in the future

What can parents & educators do? 

• Talk with your child about how anything that looks too good to be true probably is, especially when it comes to promises of fast cash 
• Consider downloading and playing one of these games yourself to better understand how they operate
• Include rules about downloading and playing pay-to-play games in your Family Media Plan 
• If you allow your student to use your PayPal or Apple Pay account, check it (or the bank account/credit card it’s tied to) for in-app purchases. 
• Use parental controls to block your child from opening apps like PayPal without permission

More resources for parents & educators

Negative Effects of Video Games

10 Screen Time Tips to Prevent Addiction

Conclusion

Ads that promise easy money for playing games can be very attractive to kids. They suggest that people are missing out by failing to download the games. For kids, the risk of being manipulated is high. It’s important to talk to your kids about the risks of gambling and the prevalence of false advertising.