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Steam updated its guidelines for users to add more restrictions regarding online gambling, leaving the future of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive skin gambling uncertain a few months before the release of its highly anticipated sequel Counter-Strike 2. These guidelines, gathered under the name “Steam Online Conduct,” describes the activities Steam users cannot perform on Valve’s platform, such as posting illegal or inappropriate content, engaging in unlawful activities, or harassing other users. The update to this policy impacts Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players, who are now unsure of the future of their skin gambling activities.

Skin gambling has been a regular activity for CS:GO fans, allowing them to bet on their cosmetics in hopes of winning better ones. Various platforms offer these services, with players placing bets on professional matches or joining lotteries using their in-game cosmetics as currency. Valve previously launched legal action against gambling sites that demanded access to the Steam API, automatically loading the users’ inventory to ease the betting process. However, since all CS:GO skin gambling websites don’t use this Steam API, players could still bet on their cosmetics if they wanted to.

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The era of CS:GO skin gambling may be coming to an end as Steam updated its Online Conduct policy to prevent users from engaging in this type of activity. More specifically, the latest update to this policy states that Steam users shall not engage in commercial activities such as running contests, buying or selling Steam accounts, posting advertisements, or gambling. This last element is the most crucial one for Counter-Strike players, as it explicitly states that the action of gambling skins is now frowned upon by Steam.

While this policy update may not have direct consequences for players, it may indicate Steam’s decision to take a better look at the websites offering the option to use in-game skins to gamble. Players engaging in this kind of activity could face sanctions from Steam, especially as Valve is both the owner of this platform and the publisher of all Counter-Strike games. In the announcement published by Steam alongside this guidelines update, Valve stated that it was simply meant to provide more information on the regulations already in place on the platform.

The recent announcement of Counter-Strike 2, set to release during Summer 2023, revived the interest for players in CS:GO skins. Valve stated that all the cosmetics from CS:GO would carry over to Counter-Strike 2, increasing the value of all cosmetics and loot boxes listed in the community market as players try to get the rarest weapon skins available in the game.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is free to play on PC.

MORE: Counter-Strike 2: 8 Things The Upcoming Game Changes From CS:GO

Source: Steam