Finnish Counter-Strike 2 pro Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen is facing a potential four-month suspended prison sentence due to accusations of aggravated tax fraud. The charges stem from an alleged failure to declare income derived from in-game sticker sales in 2020.
In Counter-Strike 2, virtual stickers are items that players can purchase and apply to their weapons. These items are tradable on the Steam Marketplace, the CS2 Store, and through third-party platforms. Professional teams often receive a portion of the revenue generated from sticker sales, particularly when participating in major tournaments. Prosecutors claim Virolainen did not report this income.
An indictment presented at the Eastern Uusimaa District Court in Finland states that Virolainen allegedly failed to declare approximately €53,000 (about $59,553 USD) in income from Valve, Counter-Strike 2's developer, during 2020. This omission, according to prosecutors, allowed him to avoid an estimated €28,000 ($31,441 USD) in taxes. Virolainen, who was 22 at the time, has stated that he was unaware of the requirement to declare this income.
His defense has argued that he was under the impression his taxes were fully handled, as taxes had already been deducted from his general income, and that he did not intentionally seek financial gain from not reporting the sticker revenue. The alleged offense occurred between May 19, 2020, and September 22, 2020, in Vantaa, Finland. A subpoena indicated that Virolainen did not submit a pre-filled tax return for 2019 and failed to report the income from Valve.
Prosecutors are seeking a four-month suspended prison sentence. Virolainen has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A district court is expected to deliver a ruling at a later date. Footage of the player arriving at court circulated online, showing him in the courtroom amidst camera flashes.
Virolainen, now 29, remains an active professional player for Natus Vincere. During the period in question, he competed in two Majors with ENCE, reaching the Grand Finals of the IEM Katowice 2019 Major. He has not issued a public statement regarding the case.