First eSports Gambling License Issued in Nevada

Sportsbook Operator, William Hill, Pioneers a New Genre of Gambling

If you're not familiar with eSports, it is a fairly new category of entertainment in which large venues host video game competitions. TBS began broadcasting, ELeague, a global, playoff-style-team competition with the video game, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The popularity of eSports is rapidly growing, so much so that some colleges now award athletic scholarships for these young competitors. Professional gamers earn a very comfortable living, including sponsorship money. Check out this clip from HBO's Real Sports:

Like all sports, there will always be the urge to cheat. Hence, there are allegations of gamers using PEDs, such as Ritalin, to gain an advantage. In response, the top eSports league, ESL, tests its gamers for those drugs. By the same token, some appropriate regulations are necessary with the betting activity associated this sport too. Yes, as the interest in this sport has grown, many spectators have naturally also begun betting on these competitions. The state of Nevada has thankfully decided to not keep this activity in the shadows of the black market. With licensing and regulation, eSports betting will help to ensure the integrity of the game, while aiding the economy and providing tax revenues. NV Governor Brian Sandoval issued his support on twitter for this new intiative.