Finnish prosecutors are seeking a four-month suspended prison sentence for Counter-Strike 2 professional Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen over an allegation of aggravated tax fraud tied to income from in-game sticker sales.
An indictment was read aloud at the Eastern Uusimaa District Court on Friday, October 16. It accuses Virolainen of failing to declare EUR 53,000 — about $59,553 — in income received from Valve in 2020, which prosecutors say allowed him to avoid an estimated EUR 28,000, roughly $31,441, in tax. He has not been formally convicted, and the district court is set to rule at a later date.
Virolainen admitted he did not declare the earnings but said he had not been aware they needed declaring. He was 22 at the time and, by his account, had no real understanding of how the tax system worked. His defence maintained that he believed his taxes had been handled in full because tax was already being deducted from his general income, and that he had not sought financial gain by leaving the sum off his return. He reportedly pleaded not guilty.
As reported by the Finnish outlet Iltalehti, the alleged offence took place between May 19 and September 22, 2020, in Vantaa. A subpoena stated that Virolainen did not return a pre-filled tax return form and did not report the missing income from Valve.
Where the sticker money comes from
Counter-Strike 2 players buy virtual stickers and apply them to their weapons, with the items sold through the Steam Marketplace, the in-game store and capsules, as well as third-party websites. Professional teams commonly take a share of the money earned from sticker sales and other in-game purchases when they compete at major tournaments, and prosecutors say it is that revenue Virolainen left off his tax forms.
Virolainen, now 29, is still an active player and currently represents Natus Vincere. Dexerto notes that he competed at two Majors with ENCE during the period covered by the charge, reaching the Grand Final at the IEM Katowice 2019 Major. Footage of him arriving at court circulated widely in the Counter-Strike community. He has not commented publicly.