Blaming the gambling that's occurring on the virtual goods is quite silly. People aren't gambling the e-guns because they want them, they have a dollar value associated with them. This gambling could just as easily occur with bitcoin.
I've spoken to dozens of gambling addicted teenagers in counter strike. You're mistaken. The guns themselves are a status symbol which, combined with their financial value, makes this way more enticing to them. They see their favourite players (often sponsored by gambling sites) using them, and want to do the same.
I've mostly stopped playing the game because it's too depressing and sickening to talk to all of these kids, with undeveloped reasoning faculties, throwing away every cent they get into bets they're convinced they'll win, until it's all gone.
I have more experience with DoTA2 which is another valve game and virtually (DoTA2 has way more worthless items) the same the situation.
You have people who want the status symbol of owning a golden e-hat and are willing to pay for it on the open market. The gambling portion is largely separate situational.
Where are their parents? How are these kids throwing away any substantial amounts of money without their parents knowing? Surprise, if you don't supervise your kids, they do stupid shit like gamble away lots of money. If it wasn't Counter Strike skins, it would be marbles or poker or sports.
