Inquiry launched into gambling on video game outcomes over fears punters are betting on kids

MASSIVE amounts of money is being plunged on the outcome of video games in a brand new type of gambling that has prompted an Australia-wide inquiry after fears punters are betting on “matches” being played between kids as young as 15.

MASSIVE amounts of money is being plunged on the outcome of video games in a brand new type of gambling that has prompted an Australia-wide inquiry after fears punters are betting on “matches” being played between kids as young as 15.

Competitive gaming or “eSports” has already become a $1.5 billion industry worldwide. And Australia’s biggest gambling agencies — from SportsBet and CrownBet to William Hill and bet365 — have dedicated sections for it.

The most popular games pit teams of players against each other in violent warlike scenarios until one group is obliterated, like in the popular World War II “shooter” franchise Call of Duty.

A screengrab of the popular video game Call Of Duty — Black Ops.

But gamblers can even wager on the outcome of how Nintendo icons fare in games like Super Smash Bros or more intricate titles like the sci-fi strategy game StarCraft.

You can win money for predicting things like the “first blood” or a team’s “kill rate” too.

The best players are earning big bucks, with Damien Chok — Australia’s top e­Sports athlete — reportedly making about a million dollars last year.

It’s now understood Australian authorities are scrambling because eSports is essentially unregulated in Australia.

It’s illegal to bet on video games in NSW, but most bookies are registered in the NT, so can do what they like. A recent report from Nielsen also found nearly one-in-5 e­Sports players are aged just 13-17.

The NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming has launched an urgent investigation into the “issues around eSports’ potential crossover with gambling”.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming has launched an urgent investigation into the “issues around eSports’ potential crossover with gambling” that will involve all states and territories. It aims to “ensure any potential risks around eSports events are properly considered”.

Child psychiatrist Philip Tam said the potential for “covert” pressure to be placed on kids to “make or lose money for adults” was extremely concerning.

ESports Games Association board member Mathew Jessep said the sector was working to self-regulate and did not support gambling encroaching on the industry.

“(We’re) very wary ... because of all the usual integrity questions that pop up — we don’t want players tanking or fixing matches or tournaments,” he said.

Screen grabs of eSports betting pages.

Mr Jessep said there were about 200 semi-professional or professional eSports players in Australia — starting from age 15. “It’s a very short career,” he said. “Their reflexes ... slow down by the time they’re 23-24.”

Calvin Truong, 20, is part of Australia’s top eSports team, the Dire Wolves. They dominate a game called League of Legends, which tech magazines call a “hack-and-slash-your-way-to-victory-in-an-online-fantasy” contest. Troung starting playing competitively at 17 and trains up to nine hours a day. Dire Wolves has an owner too — David Harris.

Mr Harris, who said his team members were all over 18, recently met with the Office of Sport to discuss how major eSports events can bring in big tourism dollars. Several major betting companies declined to comment when approached by The Daily Telegraph.

Originally published as Inquiry launched into gambling on video game outcomes over fears punters are betting on kids