Valve is facing a fresh legal battle: the New York state attorney general has filed a lawsuit, alleging the company lets children and adults illegally gamble via loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2. The suit, announced by Letitia James, claims Valve has made billions by enticing users to pay for a shot at rare virtual items with real-world value.
The complaint highlights how loot box openings mimic slot machines, complete with spinning wheels and randomized rewards. It also points to the thriving third-party market for items like Counter-Strike skins, some of which have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The attorney general’s office argues that these mechanics are especially harmful to children, who may be lured into gambling with hopes of scoring items that boost their in-game status.
Why this matters for gamers
This lawsuit could shake up how loot boxes work in some of PC gaming’s biggest titles. If New York wins, Valve might have to change or remove loot box mechanics for players in the state-potentially setting a precedent for other regions. That could mean fewer gambling-style features, changes to how items are acquired, or even restrictions on third-party trading.
For players, this raises questions about the future of skin trading, item rarity, and in-game economies. If loot boxes get axed or regulated, expect ripple effects on pricing and availability for rare items. Gamers who buy or sell skins could see the market tighten or shift to new platforms.
The legal stakes
The lawsuit seeks to stop Valve from promoting gambling features, force the company to give up any profits deemed illegal, and pay fines for breaking New York’s laws. The complaint argues that Valve’s own systems-not just shady third-party sites-constitute gambling under state law.
This isn’t Valve’s first rodeo. The company has beaten similar lawsuits before, often by arguing that third-party sites-not Valve itself-run the real-money gambling operations. But New York’s case zeroes in on Valve’s own loot box mechanics and the way they’re presented to players.
The attorney general also criticized the games’ violent content, claiming it contributes to gun violence among young gamers. However, the core of the lawsuit is about gambling, not game content.
What’s next?
If the lawsuit succeeds, New York players could see major changes to how loot boxes work-or disappear entirely-from Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2. Other states might follow suit, putting even more pressure on publishers to rethink randomized rewards. For now, Valve hasn’t commented on the lawsuit.
The bottom line
- New York sues Valve over loot box gambling in major games.
- Gamers could see changes to loot boxes, skin trading, and in-game economies if the lawsuit succeeds.