Selling CS:GO skins for real money is technically prohibited by Steam‘s Terms of Service. However, a thriving underground skin trading economy exists, estimated to see over $50 billion in transactions per year. This guide will cover how it works, tips for maximizing profits, avoiding scams, and the risks involved.
Is It Actually Illegal to Sell CS:GO Skins for Cash?
Valve‘s Steam Terms of Service explicitly prohibit transferring Steam accounts or selling items outside of Steam for real world money.
However, Valve largely turns a blind eye to third party CS:GO skin trading sites and the community using them to cash out skins. They seem to have adopted an "ignore if it‘s not hurting our bottom line" approach.
So while strictly speaking against the rules, selling CS:GO skins for cash is extremely common. Reputable skin trading sites operate openly. High profile esports professionals publicly cash out skins to PayPal with no repercussions from Valve.
You should avoid selling skins from suspect sources, like scams or hacking, as that could prompt Valve to ban linked accounts. But selling legitimately acquired skins you‘ve tired of is generally considered safe.
How Large is the CS:GO Skin Trading Economy?
While hard statistics are scarce given the legally dubious nature, estimates peg the CS:GO skin trading economy at over $50 billion in transactions annually. To put that in perspective, that‘s larger than the GDP of over 100 countries!
Other estimates put the total number of CS:GO skin trading accounts over 10 million. And Valve‘s own numbers show CS:GO averaging over 500,000 players online at once. Suffice to say, the scale is massive.
How Do Third Party CS:GO Skin Trading Sites Work?
Here‘s the basic process to cash out your skins:
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Register an account with a skin trading site like Bitskins, Skinport, SkinBaron etc.
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Link your Steam account so they can verify your CS:GO inventory and items.
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Select which skins you want to list for sale, set the price, and put them up for auction. Check SteamAnalyst and CS.Money for current market prices to set competitive pricing.
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Wait for a buyer to make a bid on your listed skins. You can also choose to instantly sell at the highest current bid price.
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Once a sale goes through, you‘ll receive the payout via your chosen cashout method – PayPal, crypto, gift cards etc. Each has different fees and processing times.
Rare high-tier CS:GO knife skin listed for over $2000
When looking for a third party marketplace, be sure to consider fees, cashout times, fraud protections, and community reputation. I recommend sticking to long established sites with strong security practices like two factor authentication.
Maximize Profits By Targeting Rare and Sought After Skins
While common CS:GO weapon skins often sell for just a few cents, the rare high-tier skins hold tremendous cash value. For example, a StatTrak M9 Bayonet | Crimson Web Factory New knife sold for over $150,000 in 2016!
Here are some tips for making the most money:
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Target rare special item skins like knives, gloves, and souvenirs. Even common knives can sell for hundreds. High-tier rare knives and gloves can go for thousands.
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Certain weapon finishes like Doppler, Fade, and Case Hardened have rare patterns and floats that drive up desirability. Educate yourself on what collectors covet.
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Be patient for particularly unique patterns. For instance, a blue gem Case Hardened AK was listed for $150,000 given its extreme rarity.
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Look for StatTrak kills tracked, float values under 0.01, and low wear for pristine condition. These traits dramatically increase prices.
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Acquire skins early when new operations or cases release. Prices quickly fall as more enter circulation over time.
Price History of an Expensive Souvenir Skin Over Time
Price history of an AWP Dragon Lore Souvenir skin over several years
As you can see in the graph above, the price of rare skins tends to decline over time but can fluctuate dramatically based on market conditions. Cashing out early maximizes potential profit.
Beware These Risks When Selling Skins for Cash
While generally safe using trusted sites, here are some risks to weigh when cashing out CS:GO skins:
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Valve bans are rare but could happen if skin sources seem suspicious. This terminates your account and untradeable skins.
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Earnings may be considered taxable income depending on your jurisdiction and volume sold. Keep records.
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Getting scammed is possible if you aren‘t diligent. Only use reputable sites and don‘t click sketchy links.
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Prices fluctuate over time based on supply and demand. Consider cashing out percentages periodically rather than all at once.
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PayPal has extra fees which eat into profits. Crypto avoids fees but has price volatility.
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Bank transfers have long delays for security reviews. PayPal is fastest but charges higher commissions.
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If your account gets VAC banned for cheating, your skins will become untradeable and unsellable.
Choose Your Skin Trading Marketplace Carefully
|| Bitskins | Skinport | SkinBaron |
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|Fees|12% + PayPal fees|12%|15%|
|Cashout Times|1-7 days|7-14 days|7-14 days|
|Reputation|Excellent|Good|Excellent|
|Security Practices|Top notch|Very good|Good|
When picking a third party skin trading site, consider factors like fees, processing times, fraud protection, and community ratings. I recommend established players like Bitskins and SkinBaron.
Conclusion – Sell CS:GO Skins for Cash Safely and Legally
While technically prohibited by Steam, selling CS:GO skins for real money is extremely common. With care and diligence, you can safely cash out your skins for excellent profits using reputable third party trading sites. Consider fees, cashout times, security practices, and skin demand when maximizing your earnings.
Hopefully this guide has provided you a comprehensive overview of legally and safely selling CS:GO skins for real cash. Let me know if you have any other questions!
