Valve Bans Skin Gambling in CS2 Tournaments

Valve has updated its guidelines for Counter-Strike 2 tournaments, prohibiting organizers and teams from promoting skin gambling, case opening, or skin trading websites during events. The changes, announced on December 11, 2025, apply to both ranked and unranked competitions and take effect immediately, affecting broadcasts, player jerseys, and sponsorship deals across the esports ecosystem.

The revisions to the Tournament Operating Requirements and Limited Game Tournament License specify that organizers must not display or distribute any content that violates Valve's intellectual property or the Steam Subscriber Agreement. This includes logos or advertisements for sites involved in skin-related gambling, trading, or case openings, which Valve states breach its terms. Tournament operators are also barred from accepting sponsorships from companies that generate revenue through such activities, those relying on Valve's in-game economies, or entities violating local laws. Non-skin-related gambling sponsorships remain permissible.

These rules align unranked events with stricter standards previously applied to ranked tournaments, ensuring consistent enforcement. Organizers must...