Valve has overhauled CS2’s Tournament operating requirements, banning skin trading, case opening, and gambling sites from all jerseys, broadcasts, and promotions across ranked and unranked events. Comes into effective now, with tournament organizers on the hook to enforce it or face Valve’s wrath.
Valve bans skins gambling, case opening sites from jerseys and events in TOR
— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) December 10, 2025
Crackdown Rules: What’s Out, Who’s Hit
The updated limited game tournament license forbids any “logos, promotions, activations, or advertisements” for sites profiting from Valve’s game economy, local law breakers, or Steam Agreement violators. Tournament organizers must scrub them from view or risk license revocation.
- Banned Sponsors: Skin trading platforms, case opening sites, skin gambling operations
- Scope: Team jerseys, event content, broadcasts all CS2 tournaments
- Enforcement: Teams defying it face organizer repercussions, TOs can’t touch the cash
- Exception Note: “Normal” casinos (non skin) still fair game, per insiders
Instant Chaos: Teams in Full Scramble Mode
The policy’s drop has sparked frantic compliance at live events:
- StarLadder Budapest Major Fallout: Squads yanking skins logos from jerseys mid tourney
- Tier 2/3 Budget Bloodbath: Smaller orgs, hooked on these deals for survival, now hunting scraps
- Event Ripple Effects: Potential shrinkages in lower tier tourneys as funding dries up
Why Valve Made the Move
No official word from Valve beyond the docs, but the intent screams loud:
- IP Fortress: Blocking unregulated economies built on CS2 assets
- Legal Shield: Sidestepping gambling adjacent heat
- Loophole Slayer: Zero tolerance for platforms gaming Valve’s system unlike straight up fiat casinos
- Control Reclaim: Aligning all commercial play with Valve’s playbook
It’s a targeted strike at skins’ wild west, not broader betting.
Daniel Davis
Since: October 29, 2025
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