While admitting he’s not a video game player except for a few losing contests with his son, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval last week brought together his Gaming Policy Committee to study the viability of eSports as an attraction to Las Vegas. Already casinos have begun hosting eSports events where players meet competitively for purses, but Sandoval wants to determine whether eSports can accept wagers.
“I’m really competitive,” Sandoval said. “I want to ensure that our industry has the ability to maintain its status as being the first in the world.”
To do that, the panel heard from professional video game players to try to determine if they are indeed athletes and how the competitions work.
According to Steve Hill, director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Nevada needs to stay at the forefront of innovation in gaming.
“It capitalizes on the fact that we are the global center for gaming and hospitality,” said Hill. “We are the place that everyone looks to when it comes to regulation and making sure that these types of games can happen in a way that people can trust.”
While players compete online frequently, the championships are held in large arenas, with thousands of people watching the proceedings. Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay recently hosted one of these events with thousands in attendance. The website Twitch has millions of visitors each day to play and observe the competitions online.
While betting on the games may be possible, it has to be determined how the play is tracked, what kinds of data the professional leagues can provide to regulators and whether integrity can be assured at all times.
