The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NVGCB) greenlit casinos to provide betting options for Counter-Strike – ESL Pro League Season 11: North America earlier this week. This marks the first instance in 2020 where the NVGCB has granted approval for wagering on an esports event.
The permission for betting on this event is in accordance with gaming regulation 22.1201 for “other events.” Only three kinds of bets have been authorized for Counter-Strike:
1. Direct confrontations <br>2. Champion of every game (three-game series)<br>3. Winner of the entire season
Bets on this event must be placed before the start of each match. There is no option for in play or live betting for this esports event. The endorsement arrives as Nevada sportsbooks are searching for new sports betting opportunities.
This esports event is available for wagering at only three out of the four currently operating sportsbooks in Nevada.
Currently, Caesars is the only sportsbook app in Nevada that doesn’t offer betting on Counter-Strike – ESL Pro League Season 11: North America. However, it should be noted that Caesars did post odds for events over the weekend.
To minimize travel, the regular season is now fully conducted online, as opposed to live venues like arenas. It involves 24 teams across four groups, with matches that commenced on March 16 and will run until April 9. The date for the finals is still to be declared. As per the current plan, the final event will be held in a European studio, without any spectators.
Esports betting in Nevada
Esports betting is not a new phenomenon. Although Nevada doesn’t host many esports betting events, they have been taking place since 2016. The first Nevada sportsbook to provide esports betting was the William Hill sportsbook at Downtown Grand. In 2017, William Hill even placed wagers on the DreamHack Masters Las Vegas esports event, which featured video games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends.
Boyd Gaming provided betting options for the Golden Tee World Championship at The Orleans in 2018. The event, which was a success, made a comeback to Las Vegas in 2019, and once more, early betting was in full swing.
Why isn’t there more esports betting in Nevada?
Esports fall under the category of “other events” in the realm of sports betting. Each request to place bets on these “other events” must be made individually. While there are numerous esports events throughout the year, sportsbooks generally see more interest in major professional sports leagues.
Today, with no NBA, NHL, NFL, or Major League Baseball games happening, Nevada sportsbooks are seeking any possible wagering options. With more time than usual on their hands, sportsbook operators can seek approval to accept bets on a variety of different events.
Currently, new events, sports, and leagues are regularly being offered. The closure of casinos may spur interest in betting on anything from esports to Sumo wrestling.
Should any of these new betting options gain significant popularity in Nevada, they could become permanent.
