With the dearth of sports betting due to the shutdown of virtually all live sporting events across the globe, the Nevada Gaming Control Board last week approved betting on esports, the first state to do so. Nevada and New Jersey had previously allowed betting on standalone esports events, but this is the first time a state has allowed betting on a specific league and multiple events.
With this ruling the state has approved betting on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s ESL Pro League Season 11: North America for three wager types: head to head, winner of each match, and overall season winner. William Hill in Nevada immediately picked up the betting and posted lines for two events last Thursday. Other licensed sports books in the state are required to inform the board’s enforcement division of their intention and to post rules for setting esports odds. The books are required to halt betting prior to the start of the match. If they want to offer additional wagers outside of the three approved bets, such as in-play wagering, they must submit a separate application.
New Jersey last year OK’d bets on the League of Legends World Championship finals. Most other U.S. regulatory bodies have yet to act on esports betting. A state Assembly committee has approved a bill that would legalize esports betting in the state, which has now moved on for consideration by the full Assembly.
