First identify what “gambling in games” means in your case: buying game items or loot boxes, or placing real-money bets through a gambling operator. For game purchases, use the platform, device, app-store, or game controls to block purchases, require approval, or set a cap. For real-money gambling, set limits through the operator and check the rules where you live. The controls and legal treatment are not interchangeable.
Start by identifying the account and type of spending
A console or mobile-game account used to buy items is different from an account with an online gambling operator. Game purchases can include fixed-price items, subscriptions, or random rewards such as loot boxes. Real-money gambling involves staking money with an operator. Virtual currency and random rewards can raise consumer-protection concerns, but they are not automatically legally equivalent to real-money gambling.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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GameStop Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25 | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vrrAVO+zL._SL160_.jpg)
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$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code] | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | Powered by the Epic Games Store - $50 | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![$25 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41cEZpeUA1L._SL160_.jpg)
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$25 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code] | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Before changing settings, identify the game or operator, the device and storefront used to pay, the account holder, and the country. Menus, account coverage, and applicable rules vary. Use the current official help page for the specific platform or operator rather than assuming that one setting covers every purchase or product.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow to limit game and in-app purchases
Block purchases or require approval
Look in the console, device, app-store, and game account settings for purchase controls. Depending on the service, you may be able to turn purchases off, require a password or other authentication, require a parent or guardian to approve them, or set a dollar limit. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission describes these kinds of controls for caregivers; available options and menu paths depend on the product. FTC: Kids and Video Games.
#1 Best Overall
- Redeemable at US GameStop, EB Games, Babbage's, Electronic Boutique, EBX, Planet X, and Software Etc. stores. Also redeemable online at and GameStop.com and EBGames.com.
- Over 6,100 stores located throughout the United States.
- GameStop. Power to the Players.
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- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
For a child’s account, keep the approval credential private and enable approval rather than relying on a child to remember a spending rule. Check which saved payment methods can be used by that account, including whether purchases can be made through a linked device or storefront.
Agree on an allowance and reduce easy access to payment
Choose permitted purchase types, a maximum amount, and a frequency before play starts. Remove payment methods that do not need to be saved, and turn off one-click purchasing where available. Virtual currency can make the real-money cost less obvious, so check the currency-to-cash conversion before approving a purchase.
Rank #2
- XBOX GIFT CARD: Buy full digital game downloads, game add-ons, in-game currency, memberships, devices, apps, movies, TV shows, and more.
- DIGITAL GAMES: Choose from hundreds of games, from AAA to indie options. Start playing the moment your most anticipated game is available when you pre-order and pre-download it.
- GAME AD-ONS: Extend the experience of your favorite games with add-ons and in-game currency.
- MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.
- PERFECT GIFT: Great as a gift for a friend or yourself. Xbox Gift Cards are easy to use, never expire, and give the freedom to pick the gift they want. Enjoy more ways to play without a credit card attached to your Microsoft account.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner recommends clear purchase rules, parental controls, pre-approved amounts, and gift cards as ways to manage spending. A gift card can cap the balance available for purchases only if no other payment method or top-up is accessible; it is not a substitute for an account-level purchase lock or approval requirement. eSafety Commissioner: How to manage money in games.
Check disclosures before buying random rewards
For a paid loot box or other random reward, read the game’s purchase disclosures and stated odds before spending. Xbox Game Studios says its covered games disclose probabilities and purchases, and that loot-box items can also be earned through gameplay. That is a policy for covered Xbox Game Studios titles, not a rule that applies to every game or publisher. Xbox Game Studios Loot Box Policies.
Rank #3
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The UK government’s guidance says loot boxes may be obtained through gameplay or purchased with money, including through virtual currency. It reports an association between loot boxes and problem gambling, while also stating that causality has not been established. The guidance does not mean every loot box is legally gambling. UK DCMS: Loot boxes in video games.
How to set limits on a real-money gambling account
Use the operator’s account settings to look for deposit, loss, or spend limits, and confirm what each one measures. A deposit limit may restrict money added to an account; it does not necessarily cap losses or total spending. Check which products and games the setting covers, when a reduction takes effect, whether an increase is delayed, and whether a limit can be changed or removed.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Rules depend on the jurisdiction and the operator’s licence. In the UK, requirements for gambling businesses licensed by the UK Gambling Commission took effect on 31 October 2025: operators must prompt customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit, allow them to review and change it, and remind them every six months to review account and transaction information. These are UK-specific requirements, not a global standard. UK Gambling Commission: New rules empowering consumers and boosting operator transparency.
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Best Value
- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Compare a control before relying on it
Different controls address different risks. Confirm the details in the account interface or the operator’s current terms before treating a setting as protection.
- What it controls: Does it block purchases, limit deposits, or cap losses or total spend?
- What it covers: Does it apply to one account, game, storefront, or product, or to more than one?
- When changes take effect: Does a lower limit apply immediately, and is an increase delayed?
- Who can change it: Does the change require a password, account holder, or parent or guardian?
- Where it is available: Is the control offered for your account and jurisdiction?
When spending or gambling feels out of control
Stop play and seek help if you are spending more than intended, staying longer than planned, chasing losses, borrowing to gamble, falling into debt, or experiencing relationship distress. These are warning signs listed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), whose self-exclusion and support information is specific to the Philippines. PAGCOR advises setting session time limits, not borrowing to gamble, and not chasing losses. PAGCOR: Responsible Gaming.
Contact the gambling regulator or a recognized gambling-support service in your country to ask about available help, including self-exclusion where offered. A spending tool or gift card is not a treatment for gambling-related harm.
More guidance on virtual currency
The European Commission’s Consumer Protection Cooperation Network has published principles on in-game virtual currencies, including consumer-protection concerns for vulnerable consumers. This is useful context when a game sells currency that can then be used for items or random rewards; it does not replace the game’s purchase controls or local legal advice. European Commission CPC Network: Key principles on in-game virtual currencies.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
