Game-Maker Valve Moves to Choke Off $7.4 Billion Gambling Market
- Recent lawsuits highlight firm’s connection to teen betting
- ‘This appears to be the beginning of the end,’ analyst says
Valve Walks Away From Gambling Ecosystem for Its Games
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Facing a wave of criticism and legal action, video game maker Valve is walking away from the rapidly expanding gambling ecosystem that has evolved around its games, potentially destroying an industry that was expected to take $7.4 billion in bets this year.
The Bellevue, Wash.-based company says it will crack down on websites that use Steam, Valve’s gaming software, to facilitate gambling, a reversal from its previous support of those sites.