Skins are cosmetic items in games such as CS2: weapon finishes, knives and gloves that change how things look but not how they play. They can be traded, and sold for real money on third-party marketplaces, which gives them real-world value. Skin betting means staking them on esports matches or casino-style games on third-party websites.
Many esports fans are young, and this is where it matters most. A UK government evidence review published in September 2025 found that 11 to 14-year-olds were more than twice as likely to take part in skins gambling as 22 to 24-year-olds.
Is skin betting legal in the UK?
Offering it to people in Great Britain requires a Gambling Commission licence. Since 2017 the Commission has said that where skins are traded or tradeable, and so act as a virtual currency, gambling with them needs a licence. It has prosecuted the operators of an unlicensed site where users gambled with in-game currency from a football game.
The 2025 review found more than 50 skins gambling sites accessible from the UK operating without a licence, many without proper age checks or basic safer gambling tools. Valve, which makes CS2, said in 2016 that using Steam's systems to run a gambling business breaks its user agreements, and told skin gambling sites to stop.
Not legal advice: rules differ between countries and change over time. Check the current position with the regulator where you live.
Why licensed bookmakers matter
The Gambling Commission says betting on esports should be treated like betting on any other live event, and licensed bookmakers offer esports markets under the same rules as football or racing. In Great Britain that means:
- Your age and identity must be checked before you can deposit or bet, a rule in force since May 2019.
- You can set deposit limits, take a time-out or close your account.
- Every British-licensed online operator must take part in GAMSTOP, the free national self-exclusion scheme.
- You can check any operator on the Gambling Commission public register.
Outside Great Britain, find the regulator in your own country and check that a bookmaker is licensed there.
How old do you have to be?
You must be 18 to bet in Great Britain and most of Europe. In the United States the minimum age for sports betting is 21 in most states, and some countries set it above 18. Whatever the local rules, this site is for adults only.
If you are under 18, you can't legally bet in Great Britain, and a skins site that lets you play is breaking the rules. Parents can find advice on in-game spending and skins from Ygam, a charity that works to prevent gaming and gambling harm among young people.
Staying in control
- Set a budget for a whole event, such as a Major or Worlds, before it starts, and don't top it up.
- Decide your bets before a series begins. Betting in-play between maps is where chasing losses starts.
- Don't bet on tilt: after a bad loss, when you're tired or when you've been drinking.
- Knowing a game well doesn't turn betting into a way to earn money. Treat any stake as the cost of entertainment.
- Many UK banks let you block gambling payments in their app.
If gambling stops being fun, talk to someone. Gambling Therapy offers free support worldwide in many languages, and in Great Britain the National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
FAQs
Is skin gambling legal in the UK?
Offering gambling with tradeable skins to people in Great Britain requires a Gambling Commission licence, and a 2025 government review found more than 50 skins gambling sites accessible from the UK operating without one. Betting on esports with a licensed bookmaker is legal for adults aged 18 and over.
How old do you have to be to bet on esports?
You must be 18 or over to bet in Great Britain and most of Europe, and 21 in most US states that allow sports betting. Licensed bookmakers in Great Britain must check your age before you can deposit or place a bet.
Where can I get help with gambling?
Gambling Therapy offers free support worldwide, online and in many languages. In Great Britain you can call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133 at any time, and join GAMSTOP to block yourself from British-licensed gambling sites.