The Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) has ordered the video game studio, Valve, to take some serious action on the betting websites which are not licensed.
One of the betting websites known as Skin Betting Website allows players to gamble with virtual items in place of currency. But if a player wins these items, they can often sell them and convert them into real money.
This site is not under control or operation of valve though it has incorporate items from its games.
Valve has received a cease and desist letter from the gambling commission in an attempt of stamping out the site.
Do you know what skin betting is?
In the context of this kind of gambling, Skin is known to be some virtual items that are collectable in video games. When these items are collected during the game, they can change the appearance of the weapon. An example is an item that when collected can change a piston into a powerful golden gun.
A player can earn some of these skins within the game as he or she plays while it is also possible to buy some skins by using real money.
Some of the games also set the players to be free to trade and sell skins by using rare examples in order to attract high prices.
Some of the websites also do allow players to gamble with their skins that they have won within the game for a chance and aim of winning more skins of high value.
Critics has it that betting or gambling with skin is not license because the skin won on such kind of gambling websites can only be sold theoretically and turned back into real-world currency.
Most of the skin betting websites are known to be connected to Valve game Counter Strike: Global offensive, though such operations which seem to be similar are there for other few titles, and an example is EA’s Fifa.
In July, Washington- based valve stated that it would effectively make use of all remedies that are available in ending skin betting and unofficial Skin websites, 23 in number were issued with order to cease operations.
At this moment, about 40 unofficial websites have been asked by the Washington- Based valve to bring to an end their skin betting operations which are connected to its games.
Valve should “stop allowing the transfer of virtual weapons known as ‘skins’ for gambling activities”. This is according to WSGC.
