NEVADA GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR WAGERING ON ESL PRO LEAGUE
Nevada state regulators just gave gamblers their March boner after they approved betting on an esports event. Let’s roll baby!
Wednesday opened up with a ruling that allows certain types of bets on Thursday’s North American competition for ESL Pro League Season 11. The $219,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event includes 6 teams: Team Liquid, 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, Furia Esports, Swole Patrol and MIBR, and is scheduled to run through April 12.
There are 3 types of wagers approved for the competition; these include head-to-head, overall season winner, and winner of each match. For bookmakers to be able to accept betting on the ESL Pro League, they must first send an application to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for approval; since they are allowed to make their own odds regarding the competition, rules say they have to tell the public about them (I mean, duh…) And it was not their first time… Nevada’s first flirt with esports wagering was in 2016, where casinos posted odds for the Intel Extreme Masters Oakland League of Legends tournament.
But of course, it’s a corona thing… Hit me, baby, one more time!
Nevada’s sportsbooks have had their panties in a bunch what with the sports world on hold due to the pandemic, and even the on-site gamblers were sent home. So, let’s give it up for online gaming, online bets, and oh, so legal fun. Because skinny dipping at the local beach is illegal… the nerve! O.o
The ESL Pro League Season 11 was set to start out with 24 teams kicking up dust in Malta, with 6 final playoff teams to have it out in Colorado, and a nice, juicy pool set at $750,000. COVID-19, however, saw otherwise and shat on the format, making it completely online.
The competition will now run in 2 separate divisions and no unifying playoffs. The North American group stage will run through April 3; their 2 top teams will move up to the playoff upper bracket, and the 3rd and 4th placers will slide down to the playoff lower bracket. Winning team gets $75,000, and runner-up gets $30,000.
I don’t know about you, but I think this is a pretty good measure by the Nevada regulators. Bettors have hardly anything to look at.
Would you like to see this happen in every state of the US? Keep up with the latest stories from the always-crazy world of esports by reading eFCKNsports daily content. Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about esports betting strategies. See Ya!
