What is Skin Gambling and How Does It Work?

For many years, online gambling and sports betting have gone hand in hand to form an industry commonly referred to as iGaming. The possibility of betting on sports from the comfort of their own homes is something many Arab bettors love, which is why this segment of the market has been growing rapidly. However, much has changed since the emergence of a new niche called eSports betting. What started out as a small-team option has grown into a massive industry with multiple teams, sponsors, major tournaments and leagues featuring the best eSports players in the world.

 As online gaming has become a huge draw for spectators and betting enthusiasts, many bookmakers have started to offer an opportunity to bet on events in the eSports world. In order to increase profits derived from eSports games, developers have made some gaming items paid for. Today, in addition to traditional casino games and sports/eSports betting, it is now possible to gamble on in-game items. Below we will tell you what skin gambling is, what game options are available to Arabic gamblers and how you can win game items by playing them. 

What is Skin Gambling

Skin gambling, also known as skin betting, is a gambling trend where players can bet on traditional eSports games or some special gambling options using in-game items such as clothing, weapons, etc. As skins in games such as CS:GO are chargeable, they can be used as in-game currency. Most of the available options for skin gambling are tied specifically to CS:GO, a title that allows you to buy and personalize various in-game items. In addition, the skin gambling industry offers games where you can bet on skins of popular eSports titles such as LoL, Dota 2, Team Fortress 2 and others. Since skin betting is still something new and unexplored for Arab gamblers, below we will elaborate on all the important aspects of this very attractive niche.

Understanding Skins

Essentially, skin is an in-game item, i.e., a digital copy of a firearm, grenade or knife used to enhance the game character's combat ability. They are virtual assets that can be purchased with real money. For example, CS:GO players can buy skins from the game developer through the Steam game distribution platform. Thus, anyone can register on Steam Community Store and purchase an item that matches their preferences and financial capabilities. The price of the skin depends on its uniqueness, rarity and design. 

To facilitate the trading of in-game items, several third-party online resources have been created where skins for popular eSports games can be bought and sold. Subsequently, they launched eSports games and gambling options based on the Steamworks API. Essentially, they allowed users to play various games where they could win valuable skins for CS:GO and other famous titles. Here are some important features of such platforms that you should be aware of:

• They allow anyone to play games of chance using skins from the Steam catalogue for betting. In fact, skins have become something of a virtual currency. This means that skin gambling works roughly the same way as real-money gambling.
• These platforms started offering slightly modified traditional gambling games that you may find in Arabic online casinos (crash games, roulette, blackjack and others). However, unlike traditional casino games, skin gambling has a serious bias toward luck.
• Since Steam charges a 15% commission on any skin purchase transaction, these platforms have enabled payment methods that ensure user anonymity, such as e-wallets (PayPal) and cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether and others). 

Before you sign up to a skin gambling website and try your hand at games of chance, you need to buy some skins. Perhaps the best option is the traditional way of buying skins via the Steam platform. Alternatively, you can earn skins by playing CS:GO and other games. Additionally, there are many third-party services that allow you to buy and trade skins. You will need these skins in order to deposit them in your account on the skin gambling website, similar to how you deposit real money in a regular online casino, such as VipArabClub. 

Keep in mind that skin gambling is a form of gambling that is not regulated in any way. Since skins are sold for real money, they have a certain value. Actually, skin gambling is just as risky as online gambling since there is a possibility that you may lose. When choosing a skin betting site, read the user reviews carefully. The presence of well-grounded complaints can be a strong argument for bypassing the platform. 

Guide to How to Play Gambling with Skins

If you are new to skin gambling, you will need some time to get ready, as these games are a little different from traditional forms of gambling. To try your hand at skin betting, do the following:

• Purchase skins. If you are a professional eSports player, you probably have plenty of skins in your account available for depositing on the skin gambling website. Otherwise, buy a few game items through the Steam platform or third-party online services. To make skins available for gambling, transfer them to a virtual wallet (if the skin betting platform of your choice does not do so automatically).
• Go to a website with skin-betting games. To choose a good platform, there are many criteria to consider. Firstly, find out about the age of the website (we do not recommend playing on too young betting platforms). Secondly, browse through the games library to make sure you are offered a sufficient variety of skin-betting options. Third, review the odds offered and read the details of bonuses and promotions available.
• Use your skins as virtual coins for betting in games.  Once you register and connect a virtual wallet with skins, you can try your hand at skin gambling games.
• Exchange your winnings for real money or use them for further bets in skin gambling games. 

What makes in-game items from CS:GO and some other titles so attractive is that they can be worth up to several thousand dollars. That's why there are a lot of mechanisms for gambling with skins and platforms offering such gambling options. Because skins have a real value expressed in money, you don't need to be a fan of eSports titles to try skin gambling. 

Popular Skin Gambling Games

As the niche has developed, more and more skin gambling games have emerged. What makes them special is that instead of betting with real money, you'll be able to bet your skins. Below we take a look at a few of the most popular and promising skin gambling options worth trying out. 

Online Roulette

Similar to regular roulette, this game offers the opportunity to bet on where the ball ends up on a wheel divided into sectors. However, in a skin-betting version, roulette is a more exciting game as it offers bigger payouts on some bets. For instance, in some versions of the game, you'll get a 2:1 payout even on Outside bets involving red/black, even/odd, and high/low numbers. Keep in mind that skin-betting roulette is a gambling game that has nothing to do with betting on eSports events. This means that before you try your hand at this game, you should learn the basic rules of classic roulette. 

Crash Games

Crash games are a specific type of skin gambling game where players place bets on the outcome of a line graph that gradually rises and falls, with the goal being to cash out before the line crashes. Basically, they work like regular crash games such as Aviator from Spribe where you need to claim your prize before the multiplier drops to zero. Being next-generation gambling, crash games offer simple rules, exciting gameplay and a high winning potential. If you've had no experience with gambling and just want to try and win some rare in-game items, then crash games are the way to go. 

Coin Flip

Because a coin has only two sides, there is a 50% chance of winning. The coin flip games offer you the chance to bet on which side the virtual coin will show when it lands. If successful, you win coveted skin. Some games also offer the chance to double your bet and flip a coin again for a chance to win something more substantial.