Nevada Gaming Partners With Watchdog Group To Police Esports Wagering

Written By Martin Derbyshire on March 15, 2017 - Last Updated on February 19, 2021

An esports gambling watchdog know as the Esports Integrity Coalition has a new partner in the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).

On March 1 the two parties inked an Information Sharing Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting integrity in esports wagering across Nevada and aiding the battle against esports betting fraud.

“As wagering on esports grows in Nevada, it is important for the gaming control board to work with integrity-focused groups such as the Esports Integrity Coalition,” NGCB Chairman AG Burnett said. “This Memorandum of Understanding will allow for the exchange of information and sharing of data that goes toward our mutual goals of ensuring wagering on esports is done safely, with integrity and a focus on removing the chances of issues arising with esports betting.”

Esports on the rise in Las Vegas

Esports wagering is clearly a rising segment in Nevada. The William Hill Sports Book at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino became the first to take legal esports wagers this past November when it allowed patrons to bet on the Intel Extreme Masters League of Legends tournament in Oakland, California. It also received regulatory approval to take bets on the DreamHack Masters Las Vegas event last month.

In fact, Las Vegas appears poised to become the future home for esports. Snake Person Esports in Necropolis opened up a 15,000-square-foot esports arena earlier this month in downtown Las Vegas.

Plans are to host its own live events as well as viewing parties for major esports events held elsewhere. A $50,000 feeder tournament into the the Halo World Championships and a Madden 17 NFL tournament sanctioned by EA Sports are already scheduled.

The Downtown Grand has also opened an esports lounge. MGM recently built LEVEL UP, a lounge for esports fans.

Both groups committed to esports betting integrity

With the esports scene in Las Vegas on the rise, esports wagering is expected to increase. The Esports Integrity Coalition says it’s Memorandum of Understanding with the NGCB will allow them to keep an eye on all of it.

Essentially, the two organizations will now be able to share information about suspicious bets and information related to betting fraud and match manipulation in esports, without any red tape.

“We are delighted that the Nevada Board have agreed to work with us as they start their journey in the regulation of esports wagering,” esports Integrity Commissioner Ian Smith said. “The gaming control board is the gold standard in the regulation of sports betting in the US and it has already been a pleasure working with them. Adding the experience and vital information of our other partners in the information exchange to the Board’s intelligence database and vice versa will undoubtedly strengthen all our efforts considerably.”

The Esports Integrity Coalition was established in 2016 aimed at combating all forms of cheating in esports. The Nevada Gaming Control Board works to thwart illegal and irregular betting in all segments of the Nevada gambling industry. It is now claiming it is committed to making the same efforts in esports.

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Martin Derbyshire

Martin Derbyshire is an award-winning journalist, video and film producer with a decade of experience covering the brick and mortar casino, poker and iGaming industries. He has produced content for top media outlets including PokerNews, Bluff Magazine and PokerListings, and has crossed the globe scooping stories and interviewing major players in all corners of the high-stakes gambling world.

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