The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has partnered with the Esports Integrity Coalition, a watchdog for esports gambling.
On March 1, the two parties signed an Information Sharing Memorandum of Understanding with the objective of enhancing integrity in esports betting throughout Nevada and assisting in the fight against esports betting fraud.
“Given the increasing popularity of esports betting in Nevada, it’s crucial for the gaming control board to collaborate with organizations that prioritize integrity, like the Esports Integrity Coalition,” stated NGCB Chairman AG Burnett. “This Memorandum of Understanding will enable us to exchange information and data, which will help us achieve our common objectives of ensuring safe, secure, and fair esports betting, and minimizing potential problems.”
Esports on the rise in Las Vegas
It’s evident that esports betting is an ascending sector in Nevada. The Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino’s William Hill Sports Book made history as the first to accept legal esports bets this previous November. It allowed customers to place bets on the Intel Extreme Masters League of Legends tournament held in Oakland, California. Additionally, it was authorized to accept bets for the DreamHack Masters event in Las Vegas the following month.
Indeed, Las Vegas seems ready to be the future hub for esports. Earlier this month, Snake Person Esports in Necropolis inaugurated a 15,000-square-foot esports arena in downtown Las Vegas.
Plans are in place to host live events and viewing parties for major esports events happening elsewhere. A $50,000 feeder tournament leading into the Halo World Championships and a Madden 17 NFL tournament approved by EA Sports are already on the schedule.
The Downtown Grand has recently inaugurated an esports lounge. Similarly, MGM has constructed LEVEL UP, a lounge specifically designed for esports enthusiasts.
Both groups committed to esports betting integrity
As the esports scene in Las Vegas continues to grow, an increase in esports wagering is anticipated. The Esports Integrity Coalition states that their Memorandum of Understanding with the NGCB will enable them to monitor all related activities.
In essence, the two organizations can now exchange information about suspicious betting activities, betting fraud, and match manipulation in esports without any bureaucratic obstacles.
Esports Integrity Commissioner Ian Smith expressed delight at the agreement by the Nevada Board to collaborate with them as they embark on the regulation of esports wagering. He praised the gaming control board as the gold standard in US sports betting regulation, and expressed pleasure at the experience of working with them. He believes that adding the expertise and crucial data from their other partners to the Board’s intelligence database, and vice versa, will significantly bolster their collective efforts.
The Esports Integrity Coalition, founded in 2016, was established with the goal of battling all types of cheating in esports. Similarly, the Nevada Gaming Control Board aims to prevent illegal and irregular betting across all sectors of Nevada’s gambling industry. Now, the board is pledging to apply the same level of commitment to combat cheating in the esports sector.
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