Five men charged with esports match-fixing after Australia-first investigation
Five men have been charged with match-fixing in Australia’s first criminal investigation into esports after police began investigating suspicious betting activity on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament.
Police & Courts
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Five men have been charged with match-fixing in Australia’s first criminal investigation into esports.
Police began investigating the men last March after a betting agency tipped them off to suspicious betting activity on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament.
Police allege players were throwing matches they had bet on, with up to $30,000 reportedly won on the fixed matches.
Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit and officers from the organised crime intelligence unit raided homes in Mount Eliza, Mill Park and South Morang last August.
A warrant was also executed in Perth.
Six men were arrested and released without charge following the raids.
However detectives laid charges against five men this week.
They include four 20-year-olds from Mill Park, South Morang and Mill Park and a 27-year-old man from Sale.
Each of the men were charged with multiple counts of using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes.
The Mill Park man was also charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency and possessing cannabis.
Each of the men face up to 10 years behind bars.
The Mill Park men and the South Morang man will appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on September 15.
The Sale man will appear at Sale Magistrates’ Court on September 15.
Esports is believed to be the fastest growing sport in the world, with the Victoria Police investigation sending waves through the industry.
Investigators were dealing with betting agencies, including Sportsbet, as part of their probe.
Last August Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson said the investigation was the first of its kind.
“Esports is really an emerging sporting industry and with that will come the demand for betting availability on the outcomes of tournaments and matches,” Mr Paterson said.
“It’s important that police and other agencies within the law enforcement, gaming and betting industries continue to work together to target any suspicious activity.”
Mr Paterson said criminal activity within esports is taken seriously and encouraged anyone with information about suspicious activity to come forward.
Anyone with information about illegal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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