Nevada Could Soon Have An Esports Czar Overseeing Competitions

Reno Sen. Ben Kieckhefer (R) has recently proposed Senate Bill 165, suggesting Nevada could become the first-ever US state to house a governmental regulatory body for esports.

The proposed legislation aims to establish the Nevada Esports Commission, modeled after the Nevada Athletic Commission that oversees boxing and mixed martial arts competitions.

The global esports industry is worth billions of dollars and Nevada, along with its gaming industry, has been attempting to penetrate this market for years. If the proposed bill is approved, Nevada has the potential to become the sought-after hub for esports that the state has been aspiring to be.

Senate Bill 165 wants oversight for esports competitions

Senate Bill 165 aims to establish the Nevada Esports Commission to oversee esports competitions in Nevada. The committee’s role will be to develop and maintain esports standards to guarantee the integrity of esports events within the state.

Should this bill be approved, the newly formed commission would operate under the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. The executive director for the committee would be appointed by Nevada’s Governor, Steve Sisolak. The executive director will be joined by two other individuals on the esports committee.

The commission is set to establish guidelines, protocols, and regulations applicable to esports events. These will have to be adhered to by hosts, participants, and locations. For instance, in the case of an esports event with a prize value of $1,000 or more, the hosts will be required to register with the commission. Upon registration, hosts will be obliged to provide detailed information about the event, including the tournament rules.

The proposed legislation would mandate esports event participants to register prior to competing in a tournament with a prize pool exceeding $1,000. Currently, there are no such restrictions, allowing anyone to participate in any esports event.

In conclusion, the commission will need to give approval for the venues where these esports events are to be hosted.

The growth of the esports industry heavily relies on the integrity of its competitions. As the industry expands, it persistently battles against player cheating.

The aim of establishing an esports oversight committee is to enhance Nevada’s appeal for hosting more significant esports events. The idea is that these events would not only attract participants to Nevada but also stimulate fans, media, and players to contribute to the local economy by spending on hotel accommodations, dining, bars, and clubs.

Esports is a billion-dollar industry

The esports industry, presently valued at $1 billion, is rapidly expanding. By the conclusion of 2021, it is predicted that esports may approach a worldwide valuation of $2 billion. With the passage of this bill, Nevada aims to contribute to the industry’s growth in North America.

The esports industry encompasses all aspects, from tournaments to gaming consoles. Although the industry is extensive, North America contributes about $300 million as per PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). To put it in perspective, this is over double the total contribution of the whole European Continent.

Before the coronavirus led to the cancellation of many live events, Las Vegas was a hub for big and small esports competitions. Mandalay Bay has been a venue for the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) in the past, and intends to host it again later this year. The event is expected to be held in the newly named Michelob Ultra Events Center.

Since its inception in 2015, the Hyper X Esports Arena at Luxor has been the venue for various smaller esports competitions.

Senate Bill 165 has the potential to turn Las Vegas into a hub for major esports tournaments across the US. By enhancing the credibility of these events, the commission might be able to encourage sportsbooks to be more receptive to accepting bets on video game competitions.