Chaos erupts in Counter-Strike’s massive gambling black market

5 July 2016

Steam has begun warning users not to use a high-profile Counter-Strike: GO gambling website after its owners turned out to be two YouTube stars – who were also using YouTube to promote the site, reports Eurogamer

This follows a recent lawsuit brought against Valve for allowing “an illegal online gambling market” and allowing minors to gamble.

Trevor “TmarTn” Martin and Tom “Syndicate” Cassell are listed in newly-uncovered business records as the president and vice-president, respectively, of online gambling site CS:GO Lotto.

The news of CS:GO Lotto’s ownership came as a surprise to viewers who have watched the pair promote the site on their channels, where both YouTube stars can be seen gambling – and winning big money – while using it.

The issue was brought to light in this video from h3h3Productions which undertook a lot of the legwork in finding the legal documentation, and which follows on from an earlier video by HonorTheCall last week which originally exposed CS:GO Lotto’s ownership.

The block, which was placed on the website by Valve, has since been lifted as it is “generally only used for malicious links and blocks links throughout Steam everywhere and therefore used with extreme caution.”


Do you think the Youtubers’ use of their platform to promote their site was immoral?  Let us know in the comments below and  in our forums.

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