Quinault Nation accuses software company of illegal 'skins gambling'

Monday, April 15, 2019  

The Quinault Nation is accusing a popular video game developer of facilitating illegal gambling through its online platform

A lawsuit filed in Washington state court claims the Valve Corporation allows users on its Steam platform to engage in gambling with items known as "skins." The firm in the past has said it is shutting down such operations but the tribe argues otherwise.

“Valve is well aware of the skins gambling that goes on, is well aware that skins have real world cash value, which has increased their popularity and value, and actively encourages and facilitates skins gambling,” the tribe states in an April 3 complaint first reported by GeekWire.

According to the complaint, users on Steam can purchase a "key" which can be used to unlock other items of higher value, such as guns and knives. One video cited in the lawsuit shows a gamer using the key to spin through various chests before one of them opens, seemingly at chance.

"The look, feel, sound and experience was basically an online slot machine," the tribe alleges of the method of play in a video game called Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). According to Wikipedia, CS:GO draws 11 million players per month.

Slot machines are considered Class III games. In Washington, tribes like Quinault are the only entities allowed to offer slot-type devices as part of their Class III gaming compacts.

The case is Quinault Indian Nation v. Valve Corporation, No. 19-2-00262-14. It was filed in Grays County Superior Court.

Valve Corporation is based in Washington state.

Valve hit with illegal gambling lawsuit by Native American nation that operates a casino in Washington state (Geekwire April 12, 2019)