Counter-Strike®: Global Offensive Cracks Down on Gambling Websites
Counter-Strike®: Global Offensive (CS:GO) has a diverse range of subcommunities that offer unique experiences, appealing to a wider audience than originally intended by Valve Corporation. However, the clash between certain communities has led to a negative impact on the game’s competitive integrity. In response, Valve and the E-Sports Entertainment Association (ESEA) have decided to disallow betting websites from being associated and promoted in CS:GO tournaments.
New Rules Enforced by ESEA
On September 22, ESEA announced that it will be implementing new rules for the upcoming season of all ESEA leagues. These rules prohibit competing teams from having any associations with gambling websites. This ruling is significant as numerous teams are sponsored by such websites. Here is an excerpt from ESEA’s press release explaining this new rule:
“We have notified all teams directly sponsored by these websites that they must change their names. Going forward, teams that accept sponsorships from gambling websites are not allowed to actively promote them through their team name or tag. Failure to comply with these rules will result in a ban from the ESEA network until compliance is achieved.”
This decision doesn’t come as a surprise due to previous instances where gambling websites compromised the integrity of the game. However, it raises the question of whether all sites should be considered potential threats. Some gambling websites involve predicting match outcomes, while others operate like raffles based solely on the skins placed inside. Should the growth of these sites be hindered?
It’s undeniable that the betting and gambling community surrounding in-game skins has flourished in the past six months, with new companies innovating the ways players can gamble their skins. The community has also faced criticism after the ‘IBuyPower’ skin scandal in January, where a team intentionally lost a match to profit from skins.
ESEA’s current policy focuses on the in-game names of players and the name tags on weapons, specifically targeting partnerships with organizations rather than personal sponsorships. As this is a new policy, revisions will likely be made to strike the right balance.
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