Counter-Strike icon Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev has hinted at a career change after an unexpectedly successful stint with gambling.
During a stream on July 22, 2025, s1mple told fans that he is considering making a move towards gambling streaming after his contract with Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) expires. His chat immediately erupted, with fans quickly taking sides on a potential move away from Counter-Strike. While s1mple would be far from the first esports personality to move into digital casinos, he would likely be the highest-profile player to make the switch. Here’s what we know about s1mple’s decision and when such an option would become available.
During his personal livestream, s1mple claimed that he could move to gambling as an additional income stream after leaving Na’Vi.
Midway through the stream, s1mple said: “Damn, I’ve never dipped into this swamp before. Maybe I should give it a shot… I could make some cash when my contract with Na’Vi ends. They say I could even stream it on Twitch.”
The star did not confirm a switch, nor did he hint at any companies with which he would partner. However, the last part of his statement could hint at his plans. Twitch’s community guidelines prohibit the streaming of casino games like slots, dice, and roulette. However, the rules leave room for other forms of gambling like fantasy sports, match betting, and poker. Assuming that s1mple knows the rules, he could have poker or sports betting in mind. If he is unaware of Twitch’s gambling policy, a switch to gambling may also mean a switch to Kick.
Credit: Perfect World
s1mple is widely considered the greatest Global Offensive player of all time, but he chose to take an extended break from competitive play at the launch of Counter-Strike 2. Since then, Natus Vincere’s CS2 division has maintained its elite status with several podium finishes. The squad even won the first CS2 Major trophy at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024.
This leaves s1mple in an awkward spot, as he is unable to return to the main team. He has occasionally played as a stand-in for teams like Falcons and FaZe Clan to middling results. It is unlikely he will return to the top tier of the esport, barring extreme circumstances.
Either way, a decision will have to wait until his contract with Na’Vi expires. There is likely a clause that prohibits individual gambling sponsorships or that prohibits streaming gambling. In October of 2022, the sponsor officially announced that it had signed s1mple for three more years. This means that s1mple’s contract is active until late 2025. At the absolute earliest, s1mple could switch to gambling on October 23, 2025.
