This development has emerged just months ahead of the highly anticipated release of Counter-Strike 2, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of skin gambling within the gaming community. The updated guidelines, referred to as “Steam Online Conduct,” encompass a range of prohibited activities on Valve’s platform, including the posting of illegal or inappropriate content, engaging in unlawful behavior, and harassing other users. Consequently, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players are now left in a state of uncertainty regarding the continuation of their skin gambling practices.
Skin gambling has become a popular pastime among CS:GO enthusiasts, enabling them to wager their in-game cosmetic items with the hope of winning more desirable ones. Numerous platforms have emerged, offering these gambling services, allowing players to place bets on professional matches or participate in lotteries using their cosmetic items as currency. Valve has previously taken legal action against gambling sites that demanded access to the Steam API, a move that streamlined the betting process by automatically loading users’ inventories. However, since not all CS:GO skin gambling websites rely on the Steam API, players could still engage in skin gambling if they chose to do so.
The advent of Steam’s updated Online Conduct policy suggests that the era of CS:GO skin gambling may be drawing to a close. The policy now explicitly prohibits users from engaging in commercial activities, including running contests, buying or selling Steam accounts, posting advertisements, and gambling. It is the latter element that holds the most significance for Counter-Strike players, as it categorically states that skin gambling is now discouraged by Steam.
While this policy update may not have immediate repercussions for players, it signals Steam’s increased scrutiny of websites that facilitate the use of in-game skins for gambling purposes. Players who continue to partake in this form of activity may face sanctions from Steam, particularly given that Valve is not only the platform owner but also the publisher of all Counter-Strike games. In Steam’s official announcement accompanying the guidelines update, Valve clarified that the objective was to provide users with enhanced information regarding the existing regulations already in place on the platform.
The recent revelation of Counter-Strike 2, scheduled for release in the summer of 2023, has reignited players’ interest in CS:GO skins. Valve has confirmed that all cosmetics from CS:GO will carry over to the sequel, thereby increasing the value of existing cosmetic items and loot boxes in the community market. As a result, players are now eagerly seeking the rarest weapon skins available in the game.
The recent revelation of Counter-Strike 2, scheduled for release in the summer of 2023, has reignited players’ interest in CS:GO skins. Valve has confirmed that all cosmetics from CS:GO will carry over to the sequel, thereby increasing the value of existing cosmetic items and loot boxes in the community market. As a result, players are now eagerly seeking the rarest weapon skins available in the game.
It is worth noting that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a free-to-play game available on PC.
