Can I actually get the money back?

Often, yes. Apple and Google both have refund processes for unauthorised purchases made by children. Report it promptly, explain the circumstances, and remove the payment method so it can't recur.

Are loot boxes really like gambling?

The reward is randomised and paid for with real money, which is why they're widely treated as gambling-adjacent. Talking about that — and enabling spending controls — matters more than banning the game.

Spending & loot boxes

A surprise bill from a 'free' game

An illustrative composite of loot-box and in-app spending running up an unexpected bill — and how a parent got a refund and reset the setup.

Illustrative composite. This scenario is a realistic composite drawn from the patterns UK safeguarding organisations describe. It is not an account of a real, identifiable child, and no names are used. It is here to make the warning signs and the right response easier to recognise.

Age around 11in app purchases

What was happening

An 11-year-old was playing a free-to-download game with a card saved to the device's app store. Chasing rare items from randomised loot boxes and keeping up with friends, they made a run of small purchases that added up to a bill the family only spotted on the bank statement.

Warning signs

Signs that were present

• Talk of needing to buy items to 'keep up' with friends in a game
• Frustration or anxiety about not having enough in-game currency
• Several small, hard-to-notice transactions in the app store history
• In-game items the child couldn't clearly explain how they got

The turning point

The parent found the charges, and instead of reacting with anger, sat down to understand how the spending had happened — realising the child hadn't fully grasped that the premium currency was real money.

What the parent did

1Contacted the app store (Apple or Google) to request a refund for the unauthorised child purchases — both have a process for this.
2Removed the saved card from the device and switched to a fixed-amount prepaid gift card.
3Turned on purchase authentication — 'Ask to Buy' via Apple Family Sharing, or purchase approval in Google Play.
4Talked through how games are designed to encourage spending, and how loot boxes use gambling-style mechanics.
5Focused on the lesson rather than punishment, so the child felt able to be honest next time.

How it turned out

Most of the charges were refunded, and with the card removed and approval switched on, further surprise spending simply couldn't happen. The more valuable outcome was the conversation about how these mechanics are engineered to feel compelling — a lesson that carries across every game.

What this teaches us

Takeaways

Premium currencies deliberately obscure the real-world cost, so children can spend without registering it as money.
Loot boxes use randomised, gambling-style rewards — and youth gambling participation is far from rare.
Removing saved cards and enabling purchase approval prevents the problem at source.
App stores will often refund genuine unauthorised child purchases if you ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & further reading

Last reviewed: 2026-07-29 · This page is educational guidance, not a substitute for emergency services, safeguarding professionals, or legal advice. If your child is in immediate danger, call 999.

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.