The Nevada Gaming Control Board gives the greenlight to esports bets

Bob
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Posted on: April 17, 2020 3:52 pm EDT

On Tuesday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board officially authorized the state’s bookmakers to take bets on three esports events.  Sportsbooks throughout the State of Nevada will now be able to offer wagering on the League of Legends European Championship, the North America League of Legends Championship, and Overwatch League.

Bettors won’t have to wait long to take advantage of these changes as there are nine Overwatch League matches on the schedule this week.  The matches include teams from Boston, LA, Atlanta, and other US cities.  This is in addition to the various European and North American League of Legends events happening over the next seven days. Bookmakers in the State of Nevada can now accept head to head, match winner, and overall winner bets.

In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, business at sportsbooks has declined precipitously as most traditional sports leagues have suspended operations.  While it has been possible to bet on futures like the winner of the Super Bowl or the upcoming NFL drafts, the options for gamblers have been extremely limited.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board had previously authorized betting on Dota 2 and Counter-Strike esports tourneys.  Nevada, along with West Virginia and New Jersey, have been accepting wagers on eNASCAR events.

According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, individual sportsbooks are free to set their own bets and odds, but they must provide the Enforcement Division with notification of terms first.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board does have some exemptions as far as betting is concerned.    In-play or live betting option is prohibited, as all bets must cease before the event begins.

The Nevada Gaming Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board are responsible for regulating the state’s gaming industry.  News releases regarding changes to esports bets can be found on their website at gaming.nv.gov.