How to Make Money Playing CS2?
Have you ever wondered how to make money playing CS2? Earning some money while enjoying the game sounds almost too good to be true, but it is actually far more achievable than you might think. For example, the CS2 skins market is estimated to be worth around $2 billion in 2024. Now, add professional events, job markets, and content creation into the mix, and you’ll have a multibillion-dollar industry with ample opportunities for you to get additional income.
In this article, we will explore how to make money in CS2 and how you can access them right now. Discover where you fit into this rapidly expanding industry!
Investing into CS2 Skins
There are many ways to play CS2 and earn money, but this one is for people interested in long-term value by profiting from the game’s fickle fashion trends. Since the CS2 market is as far from low liquidity as it gets, especially after transitioning from CS:GO to CS2, investing in skins might be a good idea for any player looking to make some profit. High liquidity also benefits long-term holders since it helps control price volatility and maintain value.
A good rule of thumb here is to invest significant amounts only into discontinued collections (nuke, militia, baggage, etc.) and operations. There are, of course, exceptions, such as AK-47 | Vulcan or AK-47 | Fire Serpent, which are both good starting investments despite still being available in cases. Once you get the hang of the CS2 invest opportunities, you’ll start to see just how many profitable options the game’s secondary market has to offer. If you are able to lay your hands on scarce and high-demand skins, such as M4A1-S | Knight, you are well set to get good money a season or two later.
In 2025, Valve is expected to release a revolver buff, which will likely make this weapon class far more popular. This is a significant factor in price formation, so a lot of decent skins are likely to increase in value. Things like these are important to look out for when making investment decisions. Another good example would be the game’s transition to CS2. This shift drove almost everything up in price because of the increased public visibility and skin reworks.
Another cool thing about this method is that you can actively use the skins you’re waiting to sell in your own matches.
Our list of the best platforms can provide some initial guidance regarding a suitable marketplace.
Trading CS2 Skins
This method is somewhat similar to the previous one, and you can combine the two for maximum effect. Trading can usually earn you money faster than investment, but it also requires more effort and commitment, and involves more risk. It requires you to conduct research about different assets, monitor the news, tournaments, and updates and correctly time the appreciation of those assets.
For example, if there is a team sticker released, you might want to consider whether this team will ever make it to the high esports scene again, and whether they will win or take an honorable standing in an upcoming tournament. Not to mention that how the piece looks is also important, and the CS2 community is well-known for its mercurial preferences. You don’t want to be stuck with a sticker that looks amazing on the marketplace page but doesn’t have any in-game appeal.
Even though it sounds like a tedious job, folks who enjoy this kind of activity may earn significant sums off some timely deals. Discovering how to earn money in CS2 by trading is also a good way to sharpen your wits before trying your luck with more significant investments.
Be advised that choosing a website for your trades is essential to make real money, so take some time to find a good platform before committing to trading.
CS2 Content Creation
If you ask a random person on the street how to earn money playing CS2, their first guess would probably be content creation.
CS entertainment has always been highly appreciated by the community—just remember how many funny YouTube videos or Twitch streams you have watched. Now that CS2 is here, increased attention from the broader gaming community has brought a drastic increase in views and revenue for CS2 content creators. You can even start your streaming career and try to monetize it.
However, CS2 content is not limited to just videos and streams. There are lots of opportunities for content writers, web developers, designers, marketing specialists, and so on to benefit from the game’s popularity.
Make Your Own Maps and Skins
Fun fact: Counter-Strike versions before 1.6 and some of the game’s most successful early maps were all community-created. They were later acquired by Valve, which means lots of money for their makers. While it is unlikely that your skin submission will make it to the in-game case since the entry barrier is very high and there are only 3 cases released per year (17 skins each), if it’s something you enjoy doing anyway, why not give it a try?
Nowadays, creators whose skins make it to the new cases are paid a percentage of the sales. A notable example of success in this niche is JTPNZ, whose skin Printstream made him enough money to pay his college tuition.
On top of that, you can try to design a map worthy of being included in the main game or make engaging CS2 maps for Surf or other custom play modes. Once you have enough players supporting your map on the Steam Workshop, you can also ask the community to donate for your effort.
Betting on Esports
How to make money from CS2 betting? It's just the same as with any other sport. Depending on your age and temperament, this may be a suitable opportunity for you. Researching teams, individual players, their strengths and weaknesses on various maps, delving deep to gain insight into their strategies—does this sound interesting? If you make informed decisions, you can earn decent money to spend as you wish.
However, betting is an inherently high-risk activity. If you are easily swayed by the allure of big wins or want a reliable source of income, we strongly advise against this method.
Becoming a CS2 Athlete
Of course, almost every player has thought about how to become a pro CS2 player and play in the best tournaments. While many of us dream of standing on the stage clutching the trophy in our hands, with the audience cheering and all, let’s be realistic—very few people will actually make it that far. Being a pro player takes an exceptional level of gameplay skill, experience, and love for the game. It also takes crazy discipline and years of practice, just like any other sport. To do this, you need to know how to play better at CS2 and improve your skills every day.
However, lower-level events may help you make some cash even if you’re yet to master the finest elements of CS. There are plenty of less-known teams and tournaments that may suit you while also not making CS2 your full-time job (like it is for pro esports players). A great example you have probably heard of by now is FACEIT. It’s an excellent platform for esports competitions on a wide range of skill levels. However, if you are interested in this method, you first need to figure out how to play FACEIT CS2 and how to grow through the levels to reach the highest 10th.
There are plenty of free websites that can help when you are looking for a team. But keep in mind that there are also lots of fraudulent platforms taking advantage of people trying to figure out how to make money with CS2, just like you. A good tip would be to pay attention to the website layout and not share your personal data right away. You also need to understand all the CS2 team roles and who is responsible for what in your team to ensure success. So yeah, it’s a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it!
What’s Next?
In this article, we have examined the best ways to play CS2 for money available today. With this many options, we’re sure you can find something that suits your skill set and preferences. We hope that we helped you grasp a general idea of how to make money on CS2, as well as how not to lose more in the long run.
