The Esports Integrity Commission issued three bans to individuals after an investigation into match fixing involving Counter Strike: Global Offensive.
The inquiry emerged during an ESEA tournament when members of the Rebirth team figured out how to manipulate the outcome, according to iGaming Business.
Sebastian “retchy” Tropiano and Kevin “4pack” Przypasniak have both received five-year bans while Carson “nosraC” O’Reilly’s got a 111-day ban, which he has already served.
“After assessing Mr. O’Reilly’s participation in the conversation, ESIC further engaged in investigatory lines of enquiry to seek out any evidence of further involvement in any corrupt behavior beyond the recording,” ESIC said.
ESIC has 34 other investigations in the fire. The organization recently banned three ESL Legends of Runeterra players for 12 months after they were found to be cheating during a tournament.
In other esports news, Nevada gaming regulators took steps August 18 to allow esports wagers on a more expansive list of events. A Nevada Gaming Control Board workshop kickstarted efforts to build a framework for an esports technical advisory committee.
Sportsbooks must apply for approval by the board. But esports supporters want those wagers available without approval. The new effort received support from Seth Schorr, CEO of Fifth Street Gaming, and chairman of the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, one of the first to host esports tournaments, according to CDC Gaming Reports.
“I think incorporating esports wagering in Nevada is critically important for our industry to keep ahead of the game. We have an opportunity to not only stay relevant but do it in the right way of how we know to do things here in Nevada,” Schorr said.
This is definitely going to be the wave of the future, said board member Philip Katsaros. “It has a lot of momentum and it’s going to continue to grow, in my estimation. I’m glad we’re getting ahead of it as much as we can, since it’s already been a train running down the track for a while.”
The Overwatch League is the type of game people should have no qualms betting on, Schorr said.
“While a majority of esports will be watched online, it’s a sport that is more exciting in real life with tens of thousands of fans, which we have done here in Las Vegas over the years, most notably at the Mandalay Bay Events Center,” Schorr said. “I do see a future where we can be an epicenter for live events.”
Brendan Bussmann, director of government affairs for Global Market Advisors, said this is one of many steps that Nevada is taking to modernize their regulations, from esports to sports betting and iGaming.
“It’s not just brick and mortar anymore,” Bussmann said. “If Nevada wants to stay on the cutting edge, it needs to modernize with these additional offerings and technology. Today was one of the first steps toward doing that. I think there is an opportunity with esports.”
