Key Moments
- According to a TrustPlay survey, 47.1 percent of gamers with tradeable skins have wagered them on third-party platforms.
- In addition, over 79 percent of survey respondents reported behaviors linked to clinical markers of problem gambling.
- Notably, the most visited skins gambling sites drew more monthly global traffic than major betting operators such as Betfred.com and Betway.com.
Unregulated Skins Gambling: Scope and Impact
A recent review from TrustPlay, an evaluative platform focused on gaming marketplaces, reveals a large and mostly unchecked gambling sector built around in-game items known as skins. These virtual cosmetic items can be earned or purchased in popular games such as Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2. Over time, they have become the backbone of a growing shadow gambling market.
Based on data from 1,530 surveyed gamers, TrustPlay found that 47.1 percent of players with tradeable skins used them for gambling on external websites. Alarmingly, 43.5 percent of this group began gambling while underage, with some starting as young as 13. As a result, the impact has been severe. About 79.4 percent reported behaviors consistent with recognized clinical signs of problem gambling. Moreover, 72.2 percent said they lost money, with average losses exceeding $1,100. Nearly one in ten respondents lost more than $5,000, while some reported losses above $10,000.
Regulatory Loopholes and Verification Issues
Unlike traditional online gambling platforms, which usually require identity verification and responsible gaming safeguards, most skins gambling sites only ask users to log in with Steam. Steam is a popular gaming platform that allows users to buy, download, and trade digital game content. Because of this low barrier, teenagers who already have Steam accounts can easily deposit valuable digital items into casino-style games, esports betting platforms, or case-opening sites. Crucially, these users are rarely asked to verify their age.
Rasmus Barslund, Founder of TrustPlay, told SiGMA News that “the 79.4 percent figure should be a wake-up call.” He explained that most skins gambling sites operate without regulation and lack basic responsible gaming protections. These missing features include deposit limits, self-exclusion programs, and tools such as the UK’s GAMSTOP. Therefore, Barslund urged policymakers to treat skins gambling with the same urgency as other online gambling products that target minors.
Market Size and Reach
Further evidence comes from a rapid review commissioned for 2025 by the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media & Sport. The review mapped the global reach of skins gambling and found that more than 50 such websites were accessible from the UK. Together, these sites attracted 6.9 million unique visits in February 2025 alone.
Importantly, the leading skins gambling platforms not only rival but exceed the monthly traffic of well-known operators like Betfred.com and Betway.com. However, unlike licensed gambling companies in Great Britain, these sites fall outside the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission. As a result, they do not have to enforce age verification at deposit or provide even basic responsible gaming tools.
| Aspect | Skins Gambling Sites | Regulated Gambling Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Age Verification on Deposit | No | Yes |
| Responsible Gaming Tools | Mostly Absent | Required |
| License from UK Gambling Commission | No | Yes |
Youth Demographics and Parental Awareness
Website analytics show that nearly 45 percent of visitors to skins gambling sites are aged 18–24. This share is significantly higher than the age profile seen on traditional betting websites. Consequently, without strict age checks, even younger users can participate without detection.
TrustPlay’s research also highlights a major gap in parental awareness. Among parents whose children began skins gambling while underage, 76.1 percent did not know it was happening. Even today, half of those parents remain unaware. As Barslund noted, “Parents often have no idea it’s happening; in our survey, 76.1 percent never found out.”
Regulatory Challenges and Legal Gray Areas
At the heart of the issue lies how gambling laws define skins. Most regulations focus on activities that involve money. However, skins are digital items that players can wager, sell, or exchange. Because of this distinction, many transactions avoid direct monetary tracking and fall outside existing legal frameworks.
The UK evidence review confirms that regulation has failed to keep pace with this evolving market. In many jurisdictions, authorities do not classify skins gambling as a regulated activity. Even where rules exist, enforcement often remains weak, especially when operators run their platforms from overseas.
- Author
Daniel Williams
