News

India's Supreme Court has directed the central government to respond within two weeks to a petition demanding a nationwide ban on over 2,000 online gambling and betting platforms masquerading as esports games. The order, issued on November 4, 2025, by Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, targets apps that exploit regulatory ambiguities to offer real-money wagering under the guise of skill-based gaming. This intervention highlights escalating concerns over consumer protection and financial crimes in one of Asia's fastest-growing digital markets, where esports betting has surged amid lax oversight.

New betting products, such as CS2 Rushzone, enhance live wagering integrity and operator offerings in the EU and APAC.

Entain has unveiled Entain Esports, a dedicated vertical licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) to operate exclusively in regulated global markets, including the UK, Germany, and Brazil. The brand, powered by Abios data feeds and ESIC integrity integration, launches with over 1,200 monthly pre-match and in-play markets across Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and League of Legends. This standalone platform marks the first time a Tier-1 operator has ring-fenced esports under a distinct regulatory and brand structure.

The Esports Integrity Commission has forged a strategic alliance with MOONTON Games to enforce anti-cheating and match-fixing protocols across Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournaments worldwide. This partnership integrates ESIC's comprehensive Integrity Program into the game's competitive circuit, covering over 50 major events annually and reaching more than 100 million monthly players in Asia-Pacific markets. The collaboration fortifies safeguards in a title that drives 15% of global esports betting volume, enhancing trust among operators in regulated jurisdictions such as the Philippines and Indonesia.

Riot Games' policy change permits Tier 1 League of Legends and VALORANT teams in EMEA and APAC to secure betting sponsors, boosting revenue while enforcing strict integrity protocols.

BETBY has introduced a suite of new player proposition bets across major esports titles, enhancing wagering options for global operators. The update covers Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant, targeting key in-game actions to deepen market depth. This development arrives amid rising demand for granular betting experiences, providing operators with tools to capture the growing segment of bettors seeking personalized wagers.

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has rolled out updated standards for esports betting operators, enforcing stricter data integrity and player protection measures to safeguard the £700 million UK esports wagering market. Announced on October 21, the guidelines mandate real-time monitoring systems and mandatory collaboration with integrity bodies like ESIC to counter match-fixing risks. This positions the UK as a frontrunner in regulating the rapidly growing esports betting sector, particularly for titles like Counter-Strike 2 and FIFA.

ESIC's swift suspensions in CS2 highlight escalating enforcement against betting misconduct, signaling zero tolerance for corruption in competitive play.

DATA.BET has introduced dedicated betting lines for 2XKO, Riot Games' forthcoming 2v2 fighting game set to enter competitive play in 2026. The provider's new markets cover anticipated tournament outcomes, character-based props, and match winner odds, marking an early push to integrate the title into global esports wagering ecosystems. This development aligns with Riot's expanding portfolio beyond League of Legends and Valorant, signaling heightened operator interest in diverse fighting game verticals amid rising demand in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has imposed an interim suspension on Counter-Strike 2 team SENZA, including all players, coaches, and staff, amid allegations of betting-related misconduct. This action, targeting the lower-tier squad formerly known as Rosy, underscores ESIC's aggressive stance on anti-corruption in global esports betting markets. It highlights the ongoing vulnerability of CS2 to match-fixing risks, where unregulated wagering can undermine competitive fairness in regions like EMEA and Asia.

ESIC's partnership with BETBY strengthens anti-corruption efforts, enhancing monitoring across global tournaments and betting platforms.

BETBY has joined the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) as a Tier One anti-corruption partner, bolstering efforts to safeguard esports competitions from betting-related threats. The sportsbook solutions provider will share real-time betting data to enable early detection of suspicious patterns, supporting investigations into potential match-fixing and manipulation. This development reinforces ESIC's global framework, which has already processed thousands of alerts across major titles like Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends.

Heightened focus on integrity as ESIC highlights match-fixing vulnerabilities in emerging markets, urging operators to enhance monitoring amid rising global betting volumes.

The Swedish government has proposed amendments to the Gambling Act, which would prohibit all forms of wagering on credit to curb debt risks in the betting sector. This legislative push targets licensed operators, including those offering esports markets, and underscores Europe's tightening grip on consumer protection amid rising gambling harms. For the esports betting ecosystem, the change signals a broader shift toward sustainable practices, potentially reshaping deposit and payment strategies across the EU.

Riot Games has lifted its long-standing ban on sports betting sponsorships for Tier 1 League of Legends Esports and Valorant Champions Tour teams in the EMEA and Americas regions. The policy shift, announced by Riot's President of Publishing and Esports, John Needham, introduces strict vetting processes and integrity safeguards to mitigate risks in the rapidly expanding esports betting sector. This move addresses team demands for diversified revenue streams while channeling a portion of proceeds back into lower-tier competitions, potentially stabilizing the global esports economy amid betting turnover exceeding $10.7 billion on Riot titles in 2024.

ESIC's new regulatory framework for talent agents signals a proactive approach to preventing corruption in emerging esports markets across the APAC and European regions.