Perennial
Publishers split on gambling money in esports
Follow the money: team solvency, youth exposure, and platform policy all hinge on gambling revenue. The argument has moved from whether to take it to who gets blamed for waiting.
What is skin gambling?
Skins are cosmetic items in a game, such as a new look for a weapon or character. They don’t change how the game plays. Some games let players trade them, which gives them real value. Skin gambling is betting with those items instead of cash. That effectively turns decorations into a currency, which is why several countries regulate it as gambling.
Where it stands
Betting and skin-gambling money has long underwritten esports, but publishers are now moving in opposite directions. Valve's December 2025 licensing update barred case-opening, skin-trading and skin-gambling advertising in any capacity, jerseys included. Riot went the other way in January 2026, approving betting sponsors for the first time — Winamax with G2 and Team Heretics — while keeping the brands off jerseys and broadcasts.
Further reading
The timeline, consequences and objections for this trend are not written yet. What it is and its reading list are above.