E-Sports Explosion: The Birth of Esports Law or Merely a New Trend Driving Change in Traditional Sports Law?

Abstract

ESports explosion is upon us whether we like it or not. The technology behind eSports and the lack of physical movement, makes traditional stakeholders in the sports sector appear very skeptical when asked to support the new trend. The fast rising turnovers, the low cost organizations as well as the accessibility will probably make them change their minds in the very near future. Some believe eSports don’t present legal challenges that have not been dealt with in the past. This could not be further from the truth. Key stakeholders (athletes, trainers, clubs, organizers, broadcasters) only appear the same, but they are not since they possess some unique characteristics that make a whole world of difference. The task of resolving legal problems such as contractual issues, intellectual property issues, e-doping, player representation, gambling in eSports may be facing great obstacles without a globally regulating authority.

Keywords: eSport, gaming, sport betting, eSport law, eDoping, responsible training, cloud gaming, olympic movement, accessibility, inclusivity, integrity, League of Legends (LOL), Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)