New York sues Valve, alleging its loot boxes are ‘quintessential gambling’
Feb 25, 2026
New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing Valve for "illegally promoting gambling" through the loot box systems it has built for video games like Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2, according to a press release. The attorney general seeks to "permanently stop Valve from pr
omoting gambling features in its games, disgorge all ill-gotten gains, and pay fines for violating New York's laws."
"This loot box model that Valve has developed - charging an individual for a chance to win something of value based on luck alone - is quintessential gambling, prohibited under New York's Constitution and Penal Law," the lawsuit says. Valve …
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