Gambling Studies Program

Skin in the Game

Dr. Fong was quoted in an ESPN article concerning the rise of online casino gambling centered on a video game. Counter-Strike Go, a game famous for its tradable gun customizations known as “skins”, has unintentionally spawned a 5 billion dollar online gambling industry, where anyone can come with their skins and gamble them away for real money. Dr. Fong explains that “skins are a highly effective tool for hooking those predisposed to addiction”, and supports the claim that these websites put many minors at risk of developing gambling compulsions.