Valve’s Protective Measures Against Gambling Services
Valve implements aggressive anti-gambling policies through trade restrictions, payment processor partnerships, and legal actions to curb unauthorized use of CS2 skins in third-party betting. These measures aim to protect minors, prevent money laundering, and maintain Steam marketplace integrity.
Trade System Restrictions
- Seven-day trade holds on all CS2 skins prevent rapid cycling used in gambling deposits/withdrawals.
- Marketplace transaction limits and item inspection delays disrupt high-volume gambling operations.
- Steam API restrictions block gambling sites from accessing real-time inventory data.
Payment and Partnership Bans
Valve collaborates with payment processors like PayPal, Visa, and cryptocurrency exchanges to block transactions to known gambling domains. Accounts sending skins to flagged gambling bots face permanent trade bans and inventory freezes.
Legal and Enforcement Actions
- DMCA takedowns target gambling sites using CS2 branding or skin imagery without permission.
- Direct lawsuits against major operators force platform closures and asset seizures.
- Account termination waves hit users with gambling-linked transaction histories.
Impact on CS2 Gambling Ecosystem
These barriers shift gambling toward crypto deposits and P2P trading but significantly increase operational costs and risks for platforms. Valve’s sustained pressure drives industry consolidation toward compliant operators while disrupting unregulated skin betting.
Valve’s comprehensive defenses reshape CS2 gambling economics, forcing adaptation while prioritizing ecosystem protection over third-party revenue opportunities.
