## Esports Wagering: A Leader’s Perspective – iGB
Ian Smith, Head of the Esports Integrity Commission, examines the present state of esports wagering and the effect of COVID-19 on the sector. While the confinement may be a favorable chance for the sector to expand, he cautions that there are also possible dangers.
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Esports Wagering: A Leader’s Perspective
Ian Smith, Head of the Esports Integrity Commission, examines the present state of esports wagering and the effect of COVID-19 on the sector. While the confinement may be a favorable chance for the sector to expand, he cautions that there are also possible dangers.
As Head of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), I have the honor of having a wide-ranging view of the connection between esports and esports wagering.
In recent months, due to the coronavirus pandemic, my viewpoint has changed significantly. What was once a relatively stable and predictable field has become unpredictable and constantly surprising. This presents both chances and obstacles. I am eager to share my “State of the Union” ideas…
Up until February of this year, anyone involved in the intersection of esports and esports wagering would have seen a pleasing image of healthy growth and increasing participation.
The behaviors of those participating are quite predictable: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Dota 2, and League of Legends (LOL) constitute more than 80% of the wagering market and earnings.
This indicates that tournament organizers (TOs) can establish agreements with data firms or directly with betting operators for “official data” to obtain real-time information and package it for the betting industry (Valve’s titles – CS:GO and Dota 2 – are simpler, whereas LOL is more challenging and certainly not as detailed). All other esports, including leagues managed by “major” publishers – Overwatch League and Call of Duty League – have almost no influence.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic brought misfortune, but also a significant opportunity for esports and esports betting. No conventional sports to watch, but individuals desire competition? Esports is present. No sporting events, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, clubs to visit? Video games and esports are here. No face-to-face interaction? In-game communication is available. No traditional sports to wager on? Esports betting is present. Miss football? FIFA and PES are here. Miss Formula One? eFormulaE is here. Miss basketball? NBA2K is here.
I receive fresh discoveries daily informing me that esports players, viewers, bettors, and volume are all expanding substantially, but I don’t require those studies because I witness the evidence firsthand in my work, albeit from the darker side…
Pastimes that previously held no interest for me are now the center of the wagering industry, the subject of dubious wagering warnings and Twitch broadcasts. The competition is thriving, and the prize funds are continuously expanding. Sporting simulation games have unexpectedly gained significance in the esports realm, a notion that purists previously disregarded. Large non-native sports wagering enterprises are actively seeking to collaborate with ESIC and join our global esports suspicious wagering alert network.
Dubious wagering alerts are becoming more common, involving games, tournament organizers, and markets I’ve never even encountered. Increasingly frequent reports reveal individuals attempting to coerce players into match-fixing through various means and threats. Webinar invitations are flooding in like a deluge… “Enlighten us on how to enter esports, esports wagering, esports sponsorship, esports investment…” I can now dedicate 20 hours weekly to imparting the knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years – esports is the future.
Therefore, what is genuine and what is fabricated? What will endure beyond the pandemic and what will fade into obscurity? Here are my personal conjectures, grounded in five years of industry experience and 20 years of expertise in conventional sports governance and regulation prior to that, not ESIC’s official perspective on these matters. What is the current state of esports?
Predicting the next major trend in esports is akin to gambling – ultimately, it rests with the gaming community, and that’s how it should be.
Numerous video games attain triumph and possess enduring appeal due to rational justifications, yet these justifications are challenging to replicate in fresh games, else they will appear as imitations. However, even this strategy proved effective in League of Legends’ past, so who can say?
I am certain that the integrity of esports still requires greater comprehension, focus, and funding. A more unified strategy is necessary to safeguard the competitive arena from deceit, dishonesty, and gambling fraud than what publishers have exhibited thus far.
The encouraging news is that this is evolving. The world’s gaze is upon esports, and with that comes affluence, which also brings strain. I anticipate witnessing who can ascend to the challenge. Meanwhile, ESIC is dedicated to supporting those involved who take these obstacles seriously.
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