The End of Sweepstakes.tf, and the Future of the Bp.tf lotto?

[Keroro1454 407]

As many of you know, Sweepstakes.tf has decided to officially shut down, giving users a month or so to withdraw their items before everything is closed.

Read it here: https://sweetstakes.tf/

 

This is likely in connection to the recent lawsuit filed against Valve concerning online gambling in CS:GO, though the carry-over to TF2 gambling is obvious.

 

So I want to know, what's the future of bp.tf's own lotto system? It's functionally identical to most, if not all gambling sites of this nature. Will it to be closing in the coming time?

[NotWarlizard 244]

In reality nothing will happen until a judge, or lawmakers, explicitly give real world money value to skins. Once that happens sites will switch hosting servers to another country and require users in the U.S (or any other country that regulates them) to use a VPN.

 

Take for example Fanobet, one of the most popular CS:GO betting sites, they prohibit U.S users since forever but they encourage VPN use. They do this long ago since they offer you bets on soccer, and other sports which crosses the line a little more than regular gambling/betting (pretty much a sportsbook).

 

Also, Fanobet is in the works to get a formal license, which gambling sites will probably end up doing, cutting down on their unregulated profit, but still highly profitable.

 

Also, on csgowild's twitter you can see that they are taking measures:

 

 

Notice that they operate a "gaming website serving skins", and not a skins gambling site serving skins. Interesting stuff.

[Captain Caboose 708]

I reckon all gambling sites for TF2 and CsGO will close down for fear of legal action.

[thecityburns2day 129]

I reckon all gambling sites for TF2 and CsGO will close down for fear of legal action.

That's part of the reason Geel switched from money to keys in the early days of the site.

[Captain Caboose 708]

That's part of the reason Geel switched from money to keys in the early days of the site.

Or, just a service to the community to shut it down so kids won't blow away their parents money like with other sites.

 

Possibly Valve would have forced the owners of the gambling sites to close down depending on the verdict of that CSGO suit but I don't see that happening.

[polar 3512]

Well, where the sites are based out of is important to note. I believe sweetstakes is based out of the states? Bp.tf is based out of Canada. 

[[Unactive Account] 196]

Well, where the sites are based out of is important to note. I believe sweetstakes is based out of the states? Bp.tf is based out of Canada.

 

sweetstakes' servers are based in Las Vegas I think since that is where scrap tf's servers are hosted

 

 

also I'm glad that it's shutting down because it shuts down the loophole that lets scammers use the service to profit

[♠Derpeh♤ 1490]

In reality nothing will happen until a judge, or lawmakers, explicitly give real world money value to skins.

 

It isnt hard to establish that skins have monetary value especially when valve themselves have essentially turned their items into a stock market (SCM).

 

To be honest I wouldnt be surprised if valve just decides to ban any form of gambling using their platform to avoid all future problems. Much easier to implement than to try regulate 3rd party websites...etc and adding and form of ID check for underage users would mean their sales would take a massive hit. Valve probably knows about the gambling sites just elected not to do anything since they create demand for their items/games but that profit would be nothing compared to their loss if they start actively trying to regulate their own users just so the minority can gamble.