Esports in Nevada have received a formal approvalby the Nevada Gaming Control Board and is now a viable market to bet on in theSilver State.
Nevada Gives Go-Ahead for Esports and Counter-Strike Wagers
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has given thego-ahead to stated licensed operators to start accepting esports bets on the ESLPro League Season, a popular video gaming competition with a globalfootprint.
At a time when COVID-19 has shut down the Silver State for business, esports has been slowly gaining momentum. Formal approval from the state’s gambling regulator gives the esports community a further boost and the until-now modest esports betting industry – an opportunity to shine.
RT ESPN_Esports "Two #ESLProLeague events will be the first esports matches eligible for betting in Nevada. https://t.co/VLkRlsQTmi"
— BrodieGamerz (@BrodieGamerz) March 26, 2020
Sports and esports fans are welcome to place their wagers on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, part of the ESL Pro League Season 11: North American series with sportsbooks quickly adapting to the news and releasing odds for the teams. William Hill has become the first “bookie” to accept wagers on Counter-Strike in Nevada.
Hold on with Esports Live Betting
For the time being, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will not permit live betting on esports, but giving the go-ahead for esports as a whole is a significant opportunity for the segment to shine.
EveryMatrix has just recently boosted its esports offer and Puntt, an online sportsbook, has launched an esports market. Nevada does not allow online gambling, but in time when the novel coronavirus outbreak has forced all casinos and sportsbooks to shut down, this stance is up for debate.
COVID-19 has led to a spate of cancelled events with global sports coming to a complete halt. All major competitions in the United States have been suspended, including the NBA, MLB, and the NHL.
Coronavirus Affected Globally as Sports Falls Victim but Esports Soars
Across the Atlantic, UK Prime Minister BorisJohnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been both diagnosedwith COVID-19. Meanwhile, the English Premier League and the Bundesliga havebeen suspended until further notice.
Commercial casinos in the United States have been closedcompletely while the Senate voted a $2 trillion relief bill which willalso help the gambling industry – a move hailed by the American GamingAssociation (AGA) and backed by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, whowill however not claim any share of the money.
The passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been hailed as an important landmark in bolstering the response to COVID-19 which might put as many as 100 million Americans at risk of losing their jobs.
In the meantime, esports has also taken a hit with a spate of canceled and suspended events globally. However, unlike the Tokyo Olympics, esports are more flexible and can rebound quickly even if physical venues have been suspended.
While some video gamers have been more cautious, franchised esports such as the Overwatch League have decided to return and continue business as usual, the only exception being no live audiences on account of the league shifting online.
A number of mainstream competitions have shifted toesports, including Formula 1 which has canceled the Azerbaijan Grand Prix andNASCAR which has turned to its esports series for an opportunity to bounceback.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has long been running a digital league, making the shift fairly easy, with the NBA 2K drawing in some solid phl63 viewership as well. Admittedly, soccer players haven’t had much to do, but this hasn’t stopped many LaLiga players participating in FIFA 20 tournaments for charity.
