William Hill has received approval from Nevada gaming regulators to accept bets on esports tournaments.
Betting started with the recent International Extreme Masters Oakland event, where top-tier League of Legends players competed for a prize pool of $100,000.
UK-based bookmaker, William Hill, known for its success in the online casino and sportsbook sectors outside of the US, has collaborated with the Downtown Grand Las Vegas casino. This partnership aims to position William Hill as the pioneer of esports betting in Nevada and, more broadly, the United States.
Sports betting and esports gambling in Nevada
Before the agreement with William Hill, Nevada’s gaming laws permitted betting on athletic and traditional sports events. However, there were distinct laws addressing the rapidly growing esports betting industry, which was projected to surpass $20 billion by 2020.
However, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has now stated that esports betting can be classified on par with sports betting. This means that only minor regulatory changes were necessary to permit esports betting in Nevada.
“Downtown Grand Casino Chairman, Seth Schorr, expressed his honor and privilege in working closely with Chairman Burnett and the Governor’s Gaming Policy Committee. Their collective support for eSports wagering was particularly appreciated,” Schorr said.
“This is a prime illustration of how public and private sectors can collaborate to create an innovative gambling approach that positively impacts state revenues. We take pride in the fact that the Downtown Grand will host America’s first regulated eSports bet.”
About William Hill
Founded in the UK in 1934, William Hill stands as one of the world’s largest bookmakers, boasting a reported revenue of over £1.59 billion ($1.98 billion) in 2015.
16,000 people are employed by William Hill in its betting shops and corporate offices, located in Leeds and Gibraltar.
The company is the largest UK gambling operator, operating over 2,300 betting shops in the UK and Ireland. They hold a market share of over 25 percent in the UK.
Recently, William Hill had engaged in talks regarding a potential merger with Amaya, the Canadian gaming behemoth and owner of PokerStars. However, these discussions were unsuccessful and no agreement was finalized.
William Hill conveyed its intentions to keep prioritizing its online services. This pledge was further affirmed by the company’s US CEO Joe Asher, who declared that the recent agreement is a reflection of that commitment.
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