CS2’s Impact on CS:GO Skins and Gambling
CS2 has completely changed the way most skins look in the game. Skins that weren’t considered that valuable, such as the AK-47 | Rat Rod, saw increases of about 10-15% as soon as the game was released as the skin boasted significant aesthetic changes compared to its Counter Strike Global Offensive counterpart.
For those interested in skins gambling, this means that the value of their inventory has severely changed depending on the skins they had in stock. Knives that were typically considered of lower quality such as the Bayonet and the Shadow Daggers have seen massive upticks and continue to climb thanks to their more attractive presence in CS2.
Source: Steam Community
However, not all skins have been met with the same fate. Some skins, such as the AK-47 | Vulkan saw drops that reached as high as 20% due to some CS:GO skins losing their relative aesthetic appeal compared to others when ported to CS2.
While these changes have not been as drastic as many had anticipated, price drops are expected to happen automatically, as skin gambling sites and other sites acclimate to the variation in supply and demand of various CS:GO skins.
The Impact of New Players in Counter Strike 2 for Skin Gambling
Source: SteamCharts
Counter Strike 2 has brought about a massive surge of new players migrating over from other competitive FPS shooters like Valorant and Rainbow Six Siege. Besides its quite sizable Counter Strike Global Offensive player base, the new game has brought new faces into the skins gambling ecosystem.
Because of this, skins that were generally of lower value thanks to their relative abundance have now soared in price, as new players immediately want to grab some skins in Counter Strike 2 for gambling, or for wearing them in matches.
Therefore, we’ve seen an overall increase in the demand for less expensive skins that still look great in CS2. Late last year Twitch streamers like Shroud and Summit predicted that a lot of CS:GO veterans will make their way to test out the game, whether they like it or not in the long run is a different story.
By extension, with these very streamers playing Counter Strike 2 and honing their old CSGO skins, we saw players trying to purchase these skins which led to an increased demand for very particular, often overlooked skins.
Will CS:GO Gambling Sites Remain the Same?
Yes, CS:GO gambling sites will remain the same. Their core functionality, whether it be eSports Betting or Dice wasn’t necessarily linked to the game itself but was merely based on it. There are two primary changes in the inherent structure of the gambling sites that you’ll be seeing which you should be aware of.
Changes in CS:GO Skins Prices and Inventory
As CS:GO skins prices fluctuate due to the release of Counter Strike 2 and all skins being ported to the new game, trading sites, in particular, have seen a massive change in price. While not positive or negative, the market is relatively volatile due to the influx of new players and the coming back of many old ones.
Many older players who have held their inventories for a long time have dumped their skins in the market expecting decent profit margins. On the other hand, newer investors and traders have started to pick up CS:GO skins that they feel will fare well in Counter Strike 2 in the long run.
We recommend holding out on making any major trends for at least the first two Majors of Counter Strike 2. After that, you’ll be able to gain a clearer picture of what kind of money makes sense for a particular skin. However, if you feel like you are getting a great price for a skin in, lock in the trade after researching popular skin trading sites such as CSGOLuck and the Community Market.
Major Changes in eSports Betting
Counter Strike sports betting, commonly referred to as eSports betting is expected to go through a massive paradigm shift as all teams adjust themselves to the new game. With major players like ESL and Valve themselves announcing multi-million dollar prize tournaments, new teams are expected to emerge from all major regions as well.
Because of this, even seasoned eSports gamblers will have to re-evaluate their strategies for Counter Strike 2. Fan favorite teams such as Na’Vi and Team Liquid alongside players that you can generally rely on like s1mple and olofmeister might have to go through a bit of a learning curve before they start performing their usual in games.
Expect to see matches with some really lucrative odds and an overall sense of doubt in even the strongest of teams due to the way Counter Strike 2 is structured. Not to worry though, you should start placing your analyzed bets after the first Major.
However, if you really want to make it big, using a gambling website to place some odd bets on underdog teams can be a great way to make a lot of money as these often are the most profitable wagers thanks to their high odds.
Will Players Lose Their Skins in Counter Strike 2?
No, all skins from CS:GO have already been transferred over to Counter Strike 2 with no input required from players. Unlike games like Overwatch 2, which completely scrapped off inventories in some cases, your inventory is kept safe in CS2.
The only change in terms of skins is their difference in aesthetics. Most skins have now gained a lot of reflection and shine based on Source 2’s natural lighting. However, you will retain all your inventory in CS2 as well.
Will Vac-Banned CS:GO Accounts Get Their Skins?
If you are VAC-banned, regardless of whether you own skins or knives, you won’t have the ability to play Counter Strike 2 or engage in trading. However, you will still be able to use your Steam account to participate in gambling sites. But, you won’t be able to use your CS2 inventory as it is not tradeable due to the ban.
The Verdict: Will Counter Strike 2 Affect CSGO Gambling?
Yes, CS2 will affect CSGO gambling. You will see a major difference in skin prices if you trade with them, or gamble with them. Moreover, CS2 eSports will take a while to stabilize before you start seeing reasonable odds as no pro team currently has experience with the new meta.
However, if you are someone who plays CS:GO themed games like Coinflip, Poker, Crash, and others, you won’t see any real changes except a few aesthetic changes here and there.
