Esports Corruption: Gambling, Doping, and Global Governance

Abstract

The world of esports is fast becoming a mainstream form of competition and entertainment. While there is debate over whether esports should be recognized as a sport, the emergence of competitive video gaming has seen a rise in many of the problems associated with traditional sport including: doping, gambling-related match-fixing and non-gambling related corruption. Indeed, the esports gambling market has quickly surpassed the total legal sports wagering market in the United States, including daily fantasy sports. This paper examines esports growth and the evolving integrity challenges being faced by players, tournament organizers, gamblers, sponsors, politicians, and fans. Esports, like traditional sports, faces both internal and external corruption-related threats. Internal threats facing competitive video gaming include the use of performance-enhancing drugs and match-fixing. The industry also faces external pressure from a large gambling industry that exists in both regulated and unregulated markets. The entire esports ecosystem is now facing increased scrutiny from various

Esports: Children, stimulants and video‐gaming‐induced inactivity

“…But, esports are not local competitions held at shopping malls, as video game tournaments once were. They are now commercial pursuits with sponsorships for top performers, sold‐out stadiums for live‐viewing, venture capital‐like investments and a tethered wagering market expected to reach US$23.5 billion by the year 2020 . Indeed, the world‐wide esports audience (participants and viewers) is anticipated to be upwards of 435 million people by 2019 .…”

“…A 2017 article from ESPN reported that amongst five popular esports titles the average age of professionals was between 21.2 and 25.5 . Beyond roots in South Korea, esports teams are now emerging on a growing number of collegiate campuses, with some schools handing out scholarships to prized recruits in the same way that they have courted football or basketball phenoms in the past . Although often discussed in the singular, esports more accurately describe a variety of different competitive video game titles in a manner like the Olympics is a conglomeration of many different sports.…”

“…The burn‐out associated with competitive video‐gaming is associated not only with the playing of games but also with the streaming of games, as some Twitch streamers have been reported to occasionally stream for periods of 24 h or longer to satisfy the appetites of the site's subscribers who follow and, in some instances, pay for content from streamers . The demands of having a successful streaming career, as well as the demands of being a successful esports professional, lead to esports being dominated by athletes that are typically younger than major professional sports stars and more akin to precocious gymnasts who have historically dominated at the Olympics, only to retire shortly after reaching the age of majority. It is not uncommon for esports professionals to retire from competition at an age as young as 19, occasionally choosing to pursue a career streaming or coaching.…”

“…The demands of having a successful streaming career, as well as the demands of being a successful esports professional, lead to esports being dominated by athletes that are typically younger than major professional sports stars and more akin to precocious gymnasts who have historically dominated at the Olympics, only to retire shortly after reaching the age of majority. It is not uncommon for esports professionals to retire from competition at an age as young as 19, occasionally choosing to pursue a career streaming or coaching.…”

“…Fueling the marathon gaming sessions of some pros and amateurs are both prescription and over‐the‐counter stimulants. The use of stimulants such as dextroamphetamine in esports has emerged as a concern, with one professional stating, ‘we are all on Adderall’ . To combat this reality or perception, some leagues have begun to implement drug testing protocols for competitors in advance of competitions.…”