s1mple eyes gambling streams as his pro CS2 future remains unclear

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev could be the next big name in gambling streaming once his contract with NAVI ends, and the mere possibility is having a big impact on the world of Counter-Strike 2.

After a short break from competitive CS2, s1mple briefly left NAVI’s bench to stand-in for FaZe Clan at IEM Dallas. His short stint as a loaned player served as a strong reminder that the legend of the game still has plenty of firepower left, as he delivered an impressive performance against Team Liquid with a standout rating among other impressive showings. Despite it all, FaZe had to let go of s1mple, who most likely would have required a hefty buyout price from NAVI in order to continue any further with FaZe.

Now, weeks after his slipping back into inactivity, s1mple has hinted at a potential streaming career in gambling should his pro CS2 career fail to relaunch.

s1mple could be the next big CS2 gambling streamer

On a Twitch livestream, the pro player seemed genuinely surprised by the size of the gambling stream scene around CS, and hinted he wouldn’t mind getting a piece of it himself. He casually mentioned that once his contract with NAVI ends in October 2025, streaming gambling content could be one of his best options moving forward while remaining around the game.

The simple comment spread like wildfire among fans. Most of what resistance there was stems from a shared hope among many fans to see s1mple back competing on stage again, tearing through top-tier CS2 events. Some fans have even started urging him to grind more CS2 on stream, hoping he’ll be ready for a serious return once his contract ends in October.

It’s worth noting that the pro player’s contract ends soon, and so far, there’s been only silence on any concrete plans for him continue on as a pro player. That could mean s1mple hasn’t received any serious offers yet, or perhaps FaZe Clan has already called dibs behind the scenes but must wait to actually move forward with its plan

s1mple handled AWPing duties well during his short stint with FaZe, but the move may have stalled simply because the organization couldn’t afford what seems to be an expensive contract buyout. That said, s1mple openly expressed that he enjoyed his time with FaZe, making it entirely possible the two have some sort of gentleman’s agreement in place for once he’s officially out of NAVI.

Now that s1mple’s contract is just a few months from expiring, there’s also a chance NAVI could lower his buyout in an attempt to recoup some financials as the player goes free. Even so, for a team like FaZe, it probably makes more sense to lean on a salaried player like broky and wait until October to pick up s1mple for free. The risk there is that once he’s a free agent, s1mple could just as easily return under a different banner. G2 and Liquid are both in a financial position to make such a move, and either team could be a realistic landing spot for the Ukrainian AWPer. TL in particular could be interesting given s1mple’s history with the team.

What CS2 gambling streams could mean for s1mple’s future

CS2 gambling content is at an all-time high, with major content creators like Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter, Félix “xQc” Lengyel, and others jumping in to open thousands of cases, pulling massive live viewership in the process. For instance, Nadeshot became one of the most-watched CS2 streamers in July after opening cases worth $30,000. It’s all part of the continued rise of betting sites for CS2, with some taking on great prominence in the game’s space.

A major part of the appeal is that high-stakes gambling streams, such as slots and crypto casinos, are restricted on Twitch. By contrast, CS2 case openings feel more accessible for streamers even though they operate on similar chance-based mechanics. It serves as an easy-to-understand alternative to traditional online betting games, making it a hit with Twitch streamers and audiences craving gambling-style content. If s1mple shifts his interest toward CS2 gambling, it would almost certainly be a hit with his Twitch fanbase.

But s1mple has specifically mentioned casino streams, which Twitch doesn’t allow if they involve unlicensed sites offering slots, roulette, or dice games. That means he’d likely need to switch to Kick, a platform that has quickly been on the rise in recent months as it encourages multistreaming and creates new programs for its streamers and creators, but one that would require a big jump for the CS2 star. Platforms the likes of GG.BET could certainly make it worth his while, however, and already have a history of being represented by s1mple as a sponsor for NAVI.

No matter what s1mple chooses to do, one thing remains clear: it’s going to make waves through the world of Counter-Strike 2 and beyond. His name carries that much weight behind it.