Teen Spends $25K on Monopoly GO Game

Summary

• A teenager reportedly spent $25,000 on Monopoly GO in-app purchases, highlighting the potential financial risks associated with microtransactions.
• The gaming industry's reliance on in-app purchases has often led to controversy and legal challenges.
• Refunds for unintended purchases can be difficult to obtain, emphasizing the dangers of spending in games like Monopoly GO.

A 17-year-old reportedly spent a staggering $25,000 on Monopoly GO in-app purchases. Although the game is free to download, many players find themselves spending significant amounts to accelerate their progress and unlock rewards. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly microtransactions can accumulate, a lesson learned the hard way by the parents of this young Monopoly GO enthusiast.

This teenager is not alone in falling into the trap of excessive spending on the app. Another user disclosed spending $1,000 before deciding to uninstall Monopoly GO, an amount that pales in comparison to the $25,000 spent by the 17-year-old.

In a now-deleted Reddit post, a stepparent revealed that their 17-year-old step-daughter made 368 purchases totaling $25,000 through the App Store. Seeking advice on how to address the situation, the stepparent turned to the Reddit community. However, the response was disheartening; many users pointed out that Monopoly GO's terms of service hold users responsible for all purchases, even if they are accidental. This is a common practice in freemium games, as evidenced by Pokemon TCG Pocket, which generated $208 million in its first month through microtransactions.

In-Game Microtransactions Are an Ongoing Controversy

The case of a teenager spending tens of thousands on Monopoly GO is just one example of the broader controversy surrounding in-game purchases. In 2023, an NBA 2K player initiated a class-action lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive over its microtransaction model, following a similar lawsuit settled by the company the previous year. While the Monopoly GO incident may not lead to legal action, it adds to the growing list of grievances against in-app spending.

The gaming industry's reliance on microtransactions is driven by their profitability. For instance, Diablo 4 players collectively spent over $150 million on microtransactions. The incremental nature of these purchases can be deceptive, encouraging players to spend more than they initially intended. This aspect of microtransaction models often leaves gamers feeling misled and frustrated.

Unfortunately, the Reddit user in question may struggle to secure a refund. For others, this serves as a cautionary tale about the ease with which one can spend large sums of money in Monopoly GO and similar games.