Counter-Strike 2 organizations are increasingly turning to skin gambling and case-opening platforms to fund their competitive rosters, with several top-tier teams announcing high-profile partnerships in recent months.
The shift from CS:GO to CS2 has brought not only gameplay changes but also a new wave of sponsorship deals between professional esports organizations and skin-related platforms. Among these partnerships, SkinRave has emerged as a prominent player, securing deals with multiple elite CS2 teams including G2 Esports and Fnatic.
The Rise of Skin Partnerships in CS2
Fnatic recently named Skinrave.gg its "Official Skin Case-Opening Partner" for its CS2 team, with planned content, tournaments and social activations for fans. The partnership represents a significant investment in fan engagement through skin giveaways and co-branded content.
G2 Esports followed suit, announcing SkinRave as its "official CS2 skin partner." The deal includes watch parties at major events like IEM Krakow and multiple skin giveaway activations for G2 fans. These partnerships typically feature the sponsor's logo on team jerseys, stream overlays, and player sponsor panels.
For fans looking to explore the
best CS2 gambling site options, platforms like SkinRave offer case-opening mechanics and skin trading tied directly to professional team promotions. SkinRave has established itself as a leading
CS skin platform, partnering with top-tier organizations including Fnatic, Wildcard Esports, M80 Esports, CPH Wolves and operating its own competitive team, Rave.
How Skin Partnerships Work
CS2 organizations structure these deals around visibility and fan engagement. Teams receive financial support to cover salaries and facilities, while sponsors gain access to the large, passionate CS2 audience through multiple channels.
The activation methods include jersey placement, in-stream overlays during matches, interview backdrops, and naming rights such as "presented by" or "official partner of" designations across tournaments and team content. Teams and sponsors also produce co-branded videos, social campaigns, meet-and-greets and watch parties to convert CS2 viewers into customers.
Beyond SkinRave - Other Major Partnerships
Team Vitality has built an extensive portfolio of skin-related partnerships. The organization extended its deal with Tradeit as the "Official Skin Trading & Skin Marketplace Partner" for its CS2 lineup. Vitality has also announced partnerships with Skin.Club as a major CS2 case-opening partner and with Skin.Land as an official CS2 skin marketplace partner.
Berlin International Gaming (BIG) maintains a long-running partnership with SkinBaron, which serves as a key CS2 skin marketplace backer for the club's Counter-Strike teams. Additional organizations, including M80 and Reason Gaming, have announced collaborations with platforms like GamerPay, often framed as official skin partners for their Counter-Strike divisions.
The Broader Sponsorship Landscape
Skin platforms represent just one category in the complex sponsorship ecosystem supporting professional CS2. Organizations also partner with PC hardware manufacturers, peripherals brands, energy drink companies, and clothing sponsors. Major tournament operators like ESL and BLAST secure partnerships across categories including processors, monitors, crypto exchanges, and regional broadcasters.
These deals are often region-dependent and season-based. A team might promote a skin brand during one tournament cycle and then quietly drop or replace it later. Most partnerships must be verified by checking each team's social media, jersey sponsors, and official partner pages, as there is no comprehensive public database tracking these relationships.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Industry Trends
Tournament operators and some regions have tightened rules on gambling and skin-betting promotion, influencing where and how teams can display certain sponsors. Some organizations have shifted from general "esports partner" labels to explicitly CS2-focused language to clarify the scope of their sponsorship agreements.
The evolution of these partnerships reflects both the financial realities of operating professional CS2 teams and the ongoing debate about appropriate sponsorship categories in esports. As the competitive scene continues to grow, the relationship between CS2 organizations and skin gambling platforms will remain a significant part of the industry's business model.
*Sponsored content