Key points
- Jagex said on September 16, 2025 that it is “taking a harsher line against players caught buying gold”.
- Agents will issue temporary or permanent bans depending on the case. Players should not expect just a warning.
- Offenders will also have items confiscated.
- The rules cover gold, items, account names and paying someone to play your account.
The announcement
In a news post titled “A message about real world trading” on September 16, 2025, Jagex set out a stricter approach for both Old School RuneScape and RuneScape. Real World Trading covers buying or selling in-game gold, items or account names for real money or anything of value, and paying someone to play your account.
Buyers had previously been treated more leniently than sellers. Jagex said it is now “taking a harsher line against players caught buying gold”, that its agents “will issue bans”, temporary or permanent depending on the situation, and that items will be confiscated.
The timing
Massively OP noted the announcement came days after an EU Advocate General’s opinion, filed September 11, in a tax case about Lithuanian RuneScape gold sellers. The Court of Justice ruled on that case in March 2026 (see our story).
What it means for buyers
This is the policy every later Jagex story builds on: from September 2025, buying gold can cost you your account on the first offense, and the gold or items involved are taken back. Bonds remain the official way to turn money into gold. See official ways to buy currency and the Old School RuneScape page.
Sources
- Jagex: A message about real world tradingSep 16, 2025
- Massively OP: RuneScape crackdown may have come from an EU tax case opinionSep 22, 2025
We report from official announcements first and name the outlet when a detail comes from one report. Found an error? Tell us, and see our editorial policy.
