Skin Gambling in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive May Cease in Washington State
The Washington State Gambling Commission has urged Valve, the developer of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, to put an end to the use of “skins” for gambling activities on its Steam Platform. The commission, established in 1973, is responsible for enforcing gambling regulations within the state.
Commission Asks Valve to Stop Third-Party Websites from Using Skins for Gambling
The commission expects Valve to take necessary actions to prevent third-party websites from using “skins” for gambling transactions through its Steam Platform system. This includes disallowing these sites from using their accounts and bots for facilitating gambling activities.
Skin Betting Scandals and Legal Actions Against Valve
The topic of skin betting has been a major subject in esports in 2016. Prominent CS:GO streamers and YouTubers were found to be affiliated with third-party skin gambling sites, which they actively advertised to their young fanbases. These individuals not only had a conflict of interest but were also aware of the betting outcomes on the sites, presenting an unrealistic picture of how the gambling sites operated. As a result, Valve faced two class-action lawsuits and issued cease and desist letters to several skin gambling sites. Compliance with the commission’s terms could lead to other states requesting Valve to ban skin betting within their jurisdictions.
Valve’s Deadline to Respond and Potential Legal Consequences
Valve has until Oct. 14 to respond to the commission’s inquiry. The company must demonstrate how its current approach to skin gambling aligns with Washington law. Failure to do so may result in additional civil or criminal action being taken against Valve by the Gambling Commission.