Esports betting has taken off in the last few years, but with it has come a disturbing trend—skin gambling. Unlike traditional sports betting, where money is wagered, skin gambling involves betting with in-game items, also known as "skins."
What is Skin Gambling?
Skins are cosmetic items in games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Dota 2. These items can be earned in-game or purchased, and they have real-world value due to their demand.
Unfortunately, unregulated third-party websites allow players—many of them underage—to bet these skins on casino-style games or esports matches. Some of the most common types of skin gambling include:
- Roulette-style games where players wager skins on a spinning wheel.
- Skin betting on esports matches, similar to sports betting.
- Loot box openings, which are essentially a form of gambling disguised as in-game rewards.
Why is Skin Gambling Dangerous?
The biggest issue with skin gambling is that it largely targets minors. Many teens don’t see skins as “real money,” yet they can be converted into cash on third-party markets. Studies have shown that young people who engage in skin gambling are significantly more likely to develop gambling problems later in life.
One former skin gambler, now 22, shared his story:
"At 16, I started betting my CS:GO skins on third-party roulette sites. At first, I was winning, but then I started losing everything. It led to a downward spiral where I even stole my parents’ credit card to buy more skins."
What Can Be Done?
Some steps have been taken to regulate skin gambling:
- Valve, the creator of CS:GO, has cracked down on skin gambling sites, but new ones keep popping up.
- The UK Gambling Commission has started investigating skin gambling, calling it a "gateway to problem gambling for minors."
- Parents and schools need to educate children about the dangers of skin gambling, much like they would with drugs or alcohol.
While esports betting itself is becoming more mainstream, skin gambling remains a serious issue that requires more attention from regulators and game developers.