The Controversy Surrounding CS:GO Gambling
The CS:GO gambling scandals have caught the attention of many, not just within the gaming community. Since the exposure of Trevor “TmarTn” Martin and Tom “Syndicate” Cassel’s involvement in CS:GO Lotto, more websites and gaming personalities have come under scrutiny.
Valve Corporation has now stepped in, likely in response to lawsuits claiming that they knew about these websites and violated their terms of service.
Parents are concerned about their children gambling, and lawmakers may need to get involved to address this epidemic.
Many individuals involved have gone quiet on social media, trying to avoid the spotlight. However, the public is still talking about the issue. For example, streamer James “PhantomL0rd” Varga had his Twitch account removed for violating the terms of service.
The Lucrative Nature of CS:GO Gambling
CS:GO skin gambling generated an astounding $2.3 billion. One website, CS:GO Shuffle, was making between $800 and $5,100 per hour, or $19,200 and $122,400 in a single day.
Knowing the Illegality
These companies were well aware that minors were using their websites for gambling. In the case of CS:GO Shuffle, evidence surfaced that PhantomL0rd not only owned the website but also knew that their actions were illegal.
In one chat, PhantomL0rd acknowledges that using regular banking services would likely encounter legal issues. They had to find other ways to handle their profits.
PhantomL0rd even reveals that their website is hosted in the United States, leaving no room for legal loopholes. They knowingly broke multiple laws.
Minors’ Involvement is a Major Concern
One of the most disturbing aspects of this scandal is the lack of concern for minors using these gambling sites. The focus seems to be on the smaller bets made by minors, rather than the fact that they are participating in illegal gambling.
CS:GO gambling websites fail to properly disclose that gambling is only for individuals of legal gambling age. Age verification is simply a yes-or-no box, unlike poker or casino sites that require identification verification.
Breaching Laws and Terms of Service
These individuals knowingly broke the law and violated terms of service of multiple companies for extended periods of time. They allowed easy access to gambling for children and concealed their involvement, breaking US FTC codes.
While some involved have been revealed, there is still a larger network of individuals behind the skin gambling industry who remain anonymous.
This scandal may not be the end of PhantomL0rd and others like him. They will likely continue to engage in new schemes, and the cycle may repeat itself.