Are Steam gift cards region locked?

[TopSuperDude]

Hey guys, I wanted to know if Steam gift cards are region locked since I was planning to buy a gift card, but noticed it said "US only". since Im not from the US (and neither is my home currency the dollar) will I still be able to use that gift card?

Just wanted to know in advance so Im not dissapointed later.
Thanks in advance.

[B-o-B]

Read this.
https://store.steampowered.com/digitalgiftcards/

[Snapjak]

Specifically you'll want to look at the contents of the box on the "More about Steam gift cards" page.

[Ettanin]

Physical gift (wallet) cards are region locked to curb the efforts of scammers scamming gullible people.

Digital gift (wallet) cards are not regionally locked, however the following regions exhibit restrictions:
Argentina, Turkey: You can only gift and receive digital gift cards from friends of your own nationality.
Russia: At this time, russian residents cannot buy games using any form of payment method and cannot top up their wallet balance in any way, shape or form.

[TopSuperDude]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Physical gift cards are region locked to curb the efforts of scammers scamming gullible people.

Digital gift cards are not regionally locked.

Ok but like, if I buy a steam gift card online with a code sent by email usually, is that considered by steam a physical or a digital steam card?

[Ettanin]

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

Ok but like, if I buy a steam gift card online with a code sent by email usually, is that considered by steam a physical or a digital steam card?

If you wish to use the gift card for yourself, simply top up your wallet balance like you usually do instead. The digital gift card is intended to gift your friend a monetary value on Steam directly without going to retail.

[TopSuperDude]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

Ok but like, if I buy a steam gift card online with a code sent by email usually, is that considered by steam a physical or a digital steam card?

If you wish to use the gift card for yourself, simply top up your wallet balance like you usually do instead. The digital gift card is intended to gift your friend a monetary value on Steam directly without going to retail.

But I only really use gift cards, since theyre the most viable option and I dont have a proper bank account.

[Ettanin]

You cannot use a physical USD gift card outside a region that does not have USD as denomination.

If you live in Brazil like your profile states, you need a BRL gift card.

Currency conversion was possible in the past, but then international scammers (like those baited by Kitboga et alia) abused steam wallet cards to launder money by reselling them (at a cut).[consumer.ftc.gov]

Digital gift cards cannot be used by yourself because that would be pointless as you need a different payment method to buy them anyway (you also cannot use wallet balance to buy a digital gift card).

[TopSuperDude]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

You cannot use a USD gift card outside a region that does not have USD as denomination.

If you live in Brazil like your profile states, you need a BRL gift card.

Currency conversion was possible in the past, but then international scammers (like those baited by Kitboga et alia) abused steam wallet cards to launder money by reselling them (at a cut).[consumer.ftc.gov]

Ah ok... got it, worth a shot though.

Just to make sure, I have a friend of mine who is from the US (that I trust). Can I give him my gift card so that he buys the games for me?

[Ettanin]

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

Just to make sure, I have a friend of mine who is from the US (that I trust). Can I give him my gift card so that he buys the games for me?

He can use the gift card, but won't be able to purchase games for you if the price difference is larger than 10 percent. Use sites like steamdb.info to see the price differences.

Also, if he does that too frequently, Steam will restrict his account by limiting wallet balance use for his own purchases only.

[TopSuperDude]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

Just to make sure, I have a friend of mine who is from the US (that I trust). Can I give him my gift card so that he buys the games for me?

He can use the gift card, but won't be able to purchase games for you if the price difference is larger than 10 percent. Use sites like steamdb.info to see the price differences.

Also, if he does that too frequently, Steam will restrict his account by limiting wallet balance use for his own purchases only.

Oh ok, got it.

By the way, how frequently would be too frequently? I dont want him getting in trouble and it being my fault.

[Ettanin]

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

By the way, how frequently would be too frequently? I dont want him getting in trouble and it being my fault.

Steam doesn't give a cutoff or ratio or similar indicator for that. Gifting should really be the exception than the norm here.

[TopSuperDude]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

By the way, how frequently would be too frequently? I dont want him getting in trouble and it being my fault.

Steam doesn't give a cutoff or ratio or similar indicator for that. Gifting should really be the exception than the norm here.

Ok, i dont expect to do this so often either so... it should be ok?

[Ettanin]

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Steam doesn't give a cutoff or ratio or similar indicator for that. Gifting should really be the exception than the norm here.

Ok, i dont expect to do this so often either so... it should be ok?

If it is once in a while, he can do that. But before he purchases the game for you, check that the price difference between his region and yours is not larger than 10%. Games whose regional price differs by more than 10% between sender and recipient cannot be gifted.

[TopSuperDude]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Originally posted by TopSuperDude (EngiHere Gaming):

Ok, i dont expect to do this so often either so... it should be ok?

If it is once in a while, he can do that. But before he purchases the game for you, check that the price difference between his region and yours is not larger than 10%.

Alright, Ill do that. Thanks.

[Areetra]

I want to gift my friend a card from India to Malaysia. How does the currency would change if I buy a digital gift card for him... Will he able to use it to buy game in his country?