ESIC Partners with MOONTON for Mobile Legends Integrity

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.

MOONTON, developer of the dominant MOBA in Southeast Asia, joins ESIC's growing network of publishers committed to ethical standards, following similar pacts with Valve and Riot. By embedding ESIC's monitoring tools, the initiative targets vulnerabilities in live betting markets, where in-play wagers on hero picks and team kills have spiked 30% in 2025.

• Operators benefit from unified data feeds that flag anomalies in real-time, reducing exposure to integrity breaches and supporting compliant odds pricing during events like the M6 World Championship.
• Regulators in Asia, such as the PAGCOR in the Philippines, can access shared intelligence to align with international benchmarks, streamlining cross-border enforcement.
• Bettors experience heightened confidence through transparent reporting, minimizing disruptions to high-stakes props, which constitute 40% of Mobile Legends wagering.

Mobile Legends has solidified its position as esports' fastest-growing betting vertical outside PC titles, with global handle topping €350 million in 2024, according to EGBA figures, fueled by accessible mobile platforms and regional leagues in Brazil and Europe. However, the sector's youth—average player age: 19—amplifies the risks posed by external influences, as evidenced by ESIC's 2024 probes into Southeast Asian syndicates. This partnership deploys ESIC's Code of Conduct, mandating player education and whistleblower protections, directly into MOONTON's ecosystem, including the MPL Philippines and Indonesia circuits that draw 2 million peak viewers.

For operators, the move facilitates seamless integration with existing risk engines, akin to those used in CS2 Majors, where ESIC-monitored events saw a 25% drop in suspicious bets last year. In Europe, where the UKGC and MGA emphasize publisher accountability, MOONTON-licensed feeds enable granular props, such as first-blood odds, without integrity gaps. Asia-Pacific expansion gains momentum, as Australia’s ACMA endorses ESIC frameworks for mobile wagering, potentially adding AU$100 million in handle by 2027.

Implications for competitive rulings are clear: violations trigger swift bans, with ESIC's tribunal—launched in partnership with WIPO—adjudicating disputes efficiently. Quotes from ESIC's Integrity Commissioner underscore urgency: "This alliance sets a gold standard for mobile esports, protecting the 80% of bets placed via apps." For bettors in Brazil's emerging market under 2024 regulations, it promises reliable live features, while operators like Betway, active in MPL sponsorships, anticipate an 18% retention uplift from verified events.

As Mobile Legends eyes 20% viewership growth into 2026, this pact not only curbs doping and scripting but also elevates the title's appeal to global bookmakers. By bridging publisher oversight with betting ecosystems, ESIC and MOONTON pave the way for sustainable expansion —from Manila arenas to European servers —ensuring wagering amplifies rather than erodes the game's vibrant community.

Sources: ESIC.gg