Is CS2 gambling legal? The legal situation by country

In short: the answer depends on where you live. In many countries playing with CS2 skins as gambling is regulated or banned. In others there is no clear rule. There is no blanket answer.

This guide is general information and not legal advice. What applies is the law of your place of residence.

Why skin gambling is often seen as gambling

Gambling generally exists when three features come together:

1. You stake something of value.
2. The outcome depends on chance.
3. You can win something of value.

CS2 skins have a monetary value because they are traded. In case battles, coinflip and similar games they often meet all three features. Whether a court or authority sees it that way depends on national law.

The legal situation differs strongly

• Many countries regulate online gambling with a monetary value. Operators there usually need a licence, which many skin sites do not have.
• Some countries have strictly banned or heavily restricted online gambling.
• Other countries have no clear law on skin gambling. There the situation is often unclear.

Within a country, states or regions can also have their own rules.

The situation in Germany

In Germany, online gambling is only allowed with a licence. The State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) requires an official licence for public gambling, and the Gambling Authority of the German states (GGL) keeps the list of licensed providers. Anyone offering gambling without a licence commits a criminal offence under § 284 of the German Criminal Code (StGB). Advertising unlicensed gambling is also prohibited (§ 5 para. 7 GlüStV).

Whether skin gambling falls under this is the key question. Based on the current position, anyone who stakes CS2 skins with a monetary value to get a chance of winning is, in the prevailing view, playing gambling. As far as we know, no skin gambling provider holds a German licence.

For you as a player in Germany this means: taking part in unlicensed gambling is rarely prosecuted in practice, but it is not legally permitted. The providers carry the greater risk.

What Valve says

Valve's Steam terms do not ban certain forms of skin gambling everywhere, but in 2025 it ended sponsorship contracts with skin gambling providers for licensed CS2 events. This does not change the legal situation in individual countries.

What you may legally do with skins

• Buy and sell skins on the Steam Community Market, as long as you follow Steam's rules.
• Trade skins, unless a ban in your country applies.

Whether staking skins in a game of chance is allowed is a different question from trading them.

What this means for you

• Check whether the provider is licensed in your country. Many providers exclude countries, and that is a hint.
• If you live in a country with a ban, stay away from skin gambling.
• If you are unsure, only a lawyer in your country can advise you.

More information about our offer can be found on Responsible gambling and in the notes on partner links.