CS2 Pro Admits to Gambling Borrowed Skins Worth Over $11,000
The esports world has been rocked by a major scandal involving Joakim "jkaem" Myrbostad, a professional CS2 player. On March 26, 2025, a Twitter user named Magnus (@erlsan) accused jkaem of gambling away $11,000 worth of skins that were lent to him for the BLAST Paris Major 2023. What began as a simple act of generosity quickly turned into a saga of deception, broken promises, and alleged financial irresponsibility.
The situation has since snowballed, with more individuals stepping forward claiming similar experiences with the former BLEED player. Some estimates suggest that the total amount of money and skins lost due to his alleged gambling addiction could be as high as $150,000 to $300,000. This revelation has reignited discussions about the dangers of gambling in esports, especially among young professionals who receive large paychecks at an early age.
Magnus’ Allegations: A Year of Lies and Deception
The controversy first came to light when Magnus posted a Twitter thread detailing his experience with jkaem. In March 2023, he lent jkaem a collection of high-value in-game skins, believing that the player would simply use them during the BLAST Paris Major and return them afterward.
However, as months passed, Magnus noticed that the skins had not been returned, and his attempts to get them back were met with excuses, ghosting, and false promises.
In march 2023 i lent out skins to @jkaem to play with during the Paris major (now worth 11k usd). Months later he had gambled my skins away. After a year of excuses, lies and deceits i have no choice left but to go public with this. 1/5
According to Magnus, when he initially confronted jkaem about the missing skins, the pro player lied about rebuying them and even claimed that he had upgraded them to better-condition versions. However, when Magnus asked for proof, the then Apeks man failed to provide any.
3/5 After this he made up excuses, and empty promises. I made. He told me he was going to upgrade my skins. i reached out mulitple times and he kept on creating new excuses. He was traveling, he was getting paid in a week e.g. Eventually i realized i was being to patient.
5/5 In January, zipel asked him to repay me and I thought he would, but I am done waiting. He never seemed to care about the stress he caused me, only when his brand was at risk. So I have decided to tweet this even if it means he wont pay me.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Magnus decided to set a deadline for repayment. On March 15, 2025, he informed jkaem that he would go public if the money was not returned. In response, jkaem paid back only $1,000 of the $11,000 he owed, a fraction of the promised amount.
Hoping to resolve the issue amicably, Magnus extended the deadline once more. However, jkaem continued to delay, and ultimately, Magnus decided that exposing the situation publicly was the only way forward.
Community Figures Speak Out
The allegations quickly gained traction within the CS2 community, with several high-profile figures weighing in. One of the most notable voices was zipel, co-owner of SkinBid.com and the Ecstatic esports organization.
Messaged jkaem on two occasions and stressed how nice and patient erlsan had been with him and he should not fuck this opportunity up to make it right. I also offered to help him discuss whatever issues he had privately in case I could help in any way, but he did not take me up
Zipel's statement raised concerns that jkaem’s gambling debts extended beyond just Magnus and that there might be many more victims who had not yet come forward. Shortly after, several users shared their own experiences with jkaem, alleging that he had scammed them in a similar manner, further fueling the controversy.
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First I did not want to show DMs because I feel like an ass for it But since he deactivated anyway might as well give a little more insight here First chat about it was in October last year That’s when I learned about the situation from Erlsan Last is today as this tweet cane out
Even a moderator from jkaem’s Twitch channel came forward, revealing that they too had been affected by his actions. This indicated that jkaem’s financial troubles were not just limited to the professional esports scene but also extended to his own community of fans and supporters.
can confirm this is not an isolated case. I have been a fan of jkaem for years and I'm even a mod on his Twitch. I don't have more proof than this, because I was stupid and trusted him not to be a scammer. I loaned him my knife back in October for "RES Regional Champions 2024"
jkaem’s Response: A Public Apology and Admission of Gambling Addiction
Amid mounting pressure, jkaem released a public statement accepting full responsibility for his actions. In his Twitter thread, he acknowledged his mistakes, admitted to owing multiple people money and skins, and expressed regret for the stress he had caused.
"I don’t have any excuses. I f***ed up bad, and there is more than one case. I will pay back everything to everyone I owe money/skins. I was an idiot, honestly. I take full responsibility, and I own my mistakes."
Together with BC team we are sitting down and taking this very serious. They want to help me fix the damage I have caused to everyone involved. I am being honest and open with them about my issues and how we have ended here. (2/4)
As hard as this is, I'm grateful it's out in the open. Sometimes you need to hit the bottom to really see who's there for you, and I’m lucky to have people helping me clean this up and move forward. (4/4)
He also mentioned that he was now working closely with BC.Game management to rectify the situation and ensure that all debts were repaid. Additionally, jkaem opened up about his long-standing gambling addiction, revealing that he had struggled with it since turning 18.
"Just to add more clarity regarding the situation, as some have raised questions on how and why this happened—the dead honest answer is gambling addiction. I have had that since the day I turned 18. I have searched for help multiple times but never succeeded."
Just wanted to address that, not using it at as an excuse or anything. Just wanted to be brutally honest and let you guys know. As I start the work with becoming clean and paying everything back. I will take actions in my life to make it right. Even if it will take years. (2/2)
While his statement was seen as a step in the right direction, many within the community remained skeptical, with some questioning whether his apology was genuine or simply damage control.
the fact it took going public to this level for you to say anything says enough about who you are as a person and how you really feel about the others involved
The Larger Issue: Gambling in Esports
The jkaem scandal has shone a light on a much larger issue within the esports industry—the prevalence of gambling addiction among professional players. The combination of young athletes earning large sums of money, the pressure of high-stakes competition, and the widespread accessibility of gambling platforms creates an environment where addiction can thrive.
Former professional Counter-Strike player Martin "STYKO" Styk also weighed in on the controversy, stating that gambling and money mismanagement were more common in the scene than people realized.
"Obviously, the jkaem situation is just ugly… but the amount of pro players who are addicted to gambling/betting or are in debt because of money mismanagement and dubious “investments” would surprise a lot of people.
After all, it’s a field where very young people get a chance to earn a lot of money, and it’s easy to fall into the wormhole of bad decisions made by you or get influenced by those who you consider close to you."
His comments highlighted the urgent need for financial education and mental health support in esports, particularly as the industry continues to grow and attract younger talent.
Not completely unrelated, but we have seen this trend in other sports. I fear gaming industry is going to produce similar numbers
A Harsh Reality Check
The controversy surrounding jkaem’s gambling debt has exposed a troubling pattern of irresponsibility, deception, and addiction. While he has taken responsibility and vowed to make amends, his reputation has been severely damaged, and it remains to be seen whether he can fully regain the trust of his peers and fans.
This situation has also reignited discussions about the dangers of gambling addiction in esports, with many calling for better support systems to prevent similar incidents in the future. As esports continues to evolve, addressing issues like gambling, financial mismanagement, and player well-being will be crucial in ensuring the industry's long-term health and integrity.
Gambling addiction is a serious issue that can have devastating financial and emotional consequences. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling problems, please seek professional help through licensed support organizations or helplines in your country.
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Featured Image Source: Stephanie Lindgren/PGL
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