Valve may be punished over cases in CS2

Authorities in New York have filed a lawsuit against Valve Corporation, accusing the company of organizing illegal gambling mechanics through its loot box system.

This was announced by the state’s Attorney General Letitia James in an official press release.

According to prosecutors, loot boxes effectively operate like a casino: players spend real money for a chance to obtain rare virtual items. Case keys are compared to digital tokens, and the system itself is described as a form of gambling. The statement refers to rewards in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2.

The press release also states that such mechanics can be addictive, especially for minors. In the opinion of the Attorney General’s office, the company earned billions of dollars, while allowing users to participate in systems that essentially resemble gambling. Authorities now intend to stop these practices through the courts, and protect residents of New York.

It is worth noting that similar claims against Valve have appeared before. In 2016, a group of parents in the US filed a lawsuit over cases in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but the court sided with the company and did not recognize loot boxes as a full equivalent of gambling.