Page 10 - QT-09-26

PAGE 10 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026

Attorney General James Sues Game Developer For Leaders Representing More Than
Promoting Illegal Gambling Through Video Games One Million New York Homeowners

Valve’s Counter-Strike, Team gambling through these games by their status in the games’ virtual Launch Co-Ops And Condos United
Fortress, and Dota Games Have charging users for the chance to worlds. Research has shown that
Slot Machine-Like Features win a rare virtual item by paying children who are introduced to (Continued from page 9) United. “More than one million
That Entice Users to Pay for the to open a virtual container known gambling are four times more New Yorkers depend on co-ops
Chance to Win Rare Prizes That as a “loot box.” likely to develop a gambling while supporting the Co-op Carve and condos as a vital path to home-
Can Be Exchanged for Money The virtual items awarded problem later in life than those Out Bill. ownership, but they are being
Lawsuit Alleges Valve’s In- when a user opens a “loot box” who are not. In addition, although New York City is grappling squeezed by rising property taxes
Game “Loot Box” Feature Vio- are cosmetic, like a hat for a this case is about illegal gam- with a cost of living crisis that is and costly, unfunded mandates.
lates New York’s Gambling Laws player’s character or artistic skins bling, it is important to note that impacting nearly all New Yorkers, Co-ops and Condos United was
and Can Lead to Serious Harms, for a player’s weapons. Like slot Valve’s promotion of games that including the more than one mil- formed to ensure policymakers
Especially for Young People machines, the prizes won from glorify violence and guns helps lion city residents who live in co- hear directly from the people liv-
loot boxes are determined ran- fuel the dangerous epidemic of ops and condominiums. However, ing with these consequences and
New York Attorney General domly in accordance with odds gun violence, particularly among the affordability discussions have to advance fair, practical solutions
Letitia James sued Valve Cor- set by the casino, which in this young gamers who can become largely focused on issues impact- that protect affordability and pre-
poration (Valve), a video game case is Valve. Valve intentionally numbed to grave violence before ing renters, leaving the challenges serve our communities.”
developer, for illegally promoting makes some items far harder to their brains are fully developed. facing co-op and condo owners “Co-op and condo homeowners
gambling through video games win than others, making the rare In the lawsuit filed today, out of the conversation. make up a significant and vital
popular with children and teen- items more valuable. Despite Attorney General James seeks Co-op and condo board mem- part of New York City’s housing
agers. An investigation by the having no in-game functional- to permanently stop Valve from bers and residents face increasing landscape, yet for far too long their
Office of the Attorney General ity, these virtual items can be promoting gambling features in regulatory and financial pressures collective voice has been muffled.
(OAG) found that Valve’s video extremely valuable, with the rar- its games, disgorge all ill-gotten that threaten their sustainability Co-ops and Condos United of NY
games, including Counter-Strike est items selling for thousands of gains, and pay fines for violating and self-governance. With chal- was created to unify that voice —
2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2, dollars online. New York’s laws. lenges ranging from property to ensure that whether you live in
enable gambling by enticing users The value of Counter-Strike’s This lawsuit is the latest ef- tax burdens to compliance with a limited-equity co-op, a building
to pay for the chance to win a rare skins rose significantly in recent fort by Attorney General James expensive government mandates, on Park Avenue, or a co-op in the
virtual item of significant mon- years, attracting speculators and to protect children online and co-op and condo owners are outer boroughs, you are heard on
etary value. In Valve’s most popu- investors who viewed these vir- prevent illegal gambling in New on the front lines of the city’s the critical issues that impact our
lar game, the process resembles tual items as potentially lucrative York. Earlier this month, At- affordability crisis. entire community” said Geoffrey
a slot machine, with an animated digital assets. In March 2025, it torney General James warned At their inaugural meeting Mazel, Executive Member of Co-
spinning wheel that eventually was reported that the market for New Yorkers of the risks posed on Thursday, February 26 2026, ops and Condos United.
rests on a selected item. The ran- Counter-Strike skins had sur- by sports betting and prediction Co-ops and Condos United of NY “Co-op and condo residents
domly selected virtual items have passed $4.3 billion. markets ahead of the Super Bowl. brought together representatives are facing a cost-of-living crisis,
no in-game functionality but can Valve allows users to cash in In February, Attorney General from more than 100,000 units – and our City must act as a lifeline
be sold online for money, with on the virtual items they have James and a bipartisan coalition the beginning of a collaborative to protect housing affordability
one item reportedly being sold for won in two ways. Users can of 39 attorneys general called on effort to strengthen advocacy, im- for those who have been most
more than $1 million. The lawsuit sell the items they won through Congress to pass the Senate ver- prove communication, and protect affected,” said Council Member
alleges that Valve has made bil- Valve’s own virtual marketplace, sion of the Kids Online Safety the interests of these homeowners Linda Lee, Chair of the Com-
lions of dollars luring its users, the Steam Community Market, Act (KOSA) to protect children across New York. mittee on Finance. “Co-ops and
many of whom are teenagers or where they can use the proceeds and their data. In 2024, Attorney The purpose of the meet- condos were once a pathway to af-
younger, to engage in gambling to buy other video games, video General James championed New ing was twofold: to outline the fordable homeownership. As our
in the hopes of winning expensive game hardware, and other virtual York’s SAFE for Kids Act to organization’s outreach efforts City grapples with the challenge
virtual items that they can cash in items. Users can also connect restrict addictive social media and to gather direct input from of affordability, I look forward to
on. With this lawsuit, Attorney their Valve accounts to third- feeds for users under 18. Attor- community leaders so that co-ops working with community leaders
General James seeks to perma- party marketplaces where the ney James is currently leading and condos can act collectively and advocates to ensure that their
nently stop Valve from continuing virtual items can be sold directly bipartisan coalitions in separate on issues that affect homeowners voices are heard and to preserve
to promote illegal gambling in its for cash. The OAG’s investigation lawsuits against Meta and TikTok throughout the city and state. the foundations of strong and
games and to pay disgorgement found that Valve facilitates and addressing the harms to young “Co-ops and condos have taken stable neighborhoods.”
and fines. even assists these third-party people’s mental health caused by a backseat for far too long in the “For too long, working- and
“Illegal gambling can be marketplaces in their operations. those platforms. Last year, At- political process in both New York middle-class co-op and condo
harmful and lead to serious ad- The high value of Counter- torney James stopped 26 online City and New York State,” said homeowners in Brooklyn have
diction problems, especially for Strike’s rare skins and the ease casinos masquerading as legal Stuart Saft, Executive Member of been overlooked by local gov-
our young people,” said Attorney of liquidating items through sweepstakes from illegally oper- Co-ops and Condos United. “Our ernment. Bringing their voices
General James. “Valve has made third-party marketplaces have ating in New York. intention is to provide a unified together around the issues that
billions of dollars by letting chil- made Valve’s virtual items an This matter is being handled organization so that we can speak matter most is an important step
dren and adults alike illegally attractive target for thieves. by Assistant Attorneys General with one voice on the issues that forward, and I look forward to
gamble for the chance to win Valve has received hundreds of Marc Montgomery and Alexan- matter most to our communities.” working closely with them to
valuable virtual prizes. These thousands of support requests dra Hiatt and Senior Enforcement “Co-op and condo owners consti- ensure they are heard and repre-
features are addictive, harmful, from users reporting that their Counsel Jordan Adler under the tute the majority of New York’s sented.” Said NYS Senator Jessica
and illegal, and my office is suing Steam accounts had been hacked, supervision of Bureau Chief Kim middle class, from young fami- Scarcella-Spanton
to stop Valve’s illegal conduct and or that they had been tricked into Berger and Deputy Bureau Chief lies, to retirees, and everyone in About Co-ops and Condos Unit-
protect New Yorkers.” transferring items to a bad actor. Clark Russell, of the Bureau of between. As long-term residents, ed - Co-ops and Condos United is
Valve is a developer, publisher, Valve’s loot box model can be Internet and Technology. The they are the cornerstone of their a newly formed advocacy orga-
and distributor of video games especially harmful to children. Bureau of Internet and Technol- neighborhoods. For years, we’ve nization dedicated to represent-
and the operator of a platform Attorney General James asserts ogy is a part of the Division of been hearing from boards and ing the interests of cooperative
called Steam, which allows users that young users with limited Economic Justice, which is led by shareholders that they are facing and condominium homeowners
to directly download its games, funds can be enticed to start gam- Chief Deputy Attorney General escalating costs, both from needed throughout New York City and
including Counter-Strike 2, Team bling through loot boxes in the Chris D’Angelo and overseen by capital improvements and from New York State. The organization
Fortress 2, and Dota 2. The law- hopes of obtaining a virtual item First Deputy Attorney General unexpected unfunded mandates. brings together board members,
suit alleges that Valve enables that they believe will enhance Jennifer Levy. They are not exempt from New residents, and industry leaders to
York’s cost-of-living crisis and provide a unified voice on legisla-
Statement From Speaker Julie Menin on City Council their voice needs to be represented tive, regulatory, and policy issues
in the public policy conversation.” affecting co-op and condo com-
Employee Rafael Rubio Jane Menton, Legislative Director munities. Through education, out-
of Co-ops and Condos United. reach, and coordinated advocacy,
“We are deeply disappointed beloved by his colleagues, and Co-op and condo homeown- Co-ops and Condos United works
and outraged that our City Council his absence has been deeply felt. ers are on the front lines of New to ensure fair treatment, sensible (Continued from page 9)
colleague Rafael Rubio remains in The New York City Council York’s affordability crisis, yet for housing policy, and meaningful
federal custody. acted immediately. We filed an too long our voices have been representation for the more than
From the very beginning, we emergency habeas petition to ignored in the policy debate,” one million New Yorkers who
have said clearly: Rafael’s deten- ensure he remained in New York. said Michael Wolfe, Executive live in co-op and condominium
tion was unlawful. He had legal Our General Counsel attended Member of Co-ops and Condos housing.
authorization to remain in this every hearing. We worked around
country. There was no judicial the clock, filed an amicus brief de- TAKE 5 Top-Prize Tickets Sold in
warrant. And yet he was taken into manding his release, and pressed
custody at what should have been a for accountability at every level. GLEN OAKS
New York City Council Speaker routine immigration appointment. We will pursue every legal The New York Lottery today in GLEN OAKS, which sold
Julie Menin issued the following This is an employee who has avenue available to secure Rafael’s announced multiple top-prize one prize-winning ticket worth
statement on the federal court’s done everything right. He com- release. We will continue to press winning tickets were sold for $15,654.00
decision to delay the release of plied with the law. He showed up for transparency and accountabil- the Feb 26 TAKE 5 EVENING TAKE 5 numbers are drawn from
City Council employee Rafael for his appointment. He has served ity. And we will continue to stand drawing. The tickets were sold at: a field of one through 39. The
Rubio, who has been in federal the people of New York City with by him and his family during this • JELLY BEAN locat- drawing is televised twice daily
detention since January 12, 2026: integrity and dedication. He is painful and unacceptable ordeal.” ed at 256-09C UNION TPKE at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.