{"id":26670,"date":"2019-06-04T07:58:20","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T07:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comparakeet.com\/?page_id=26670"},"modified":"2019-06-19T07:55:32","modified_gmt":"2019-06-19T07:55:32","slug":"is-esports-betting-legal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/comparakeet.com\/best-brazil-betting-sites\/is-esports-betting-legal\/","title":{"rendered":"Is eSports Betting Legal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Online gambling can be a tricky field to walk—more so if you’re betting on eSports. The eSports betting<\/a> world is still mostly uncharted territory, not least of all because of tricky legal questions and issues of jurisdiction. If you’re looking to place some bets on your favorite eSports teams, you might be wondering if that’s even allowed. In this article, we delve into that question, and it turns out the answers aren’t as clear-cut as you’d expect.<\/p>\n

Before anything else, though, we’d like to stress that it never pays to skirt the law<\/strong>. If you’re in an area where eSports betting isn’t legal, tough luck. Instead of risking underground betting markets, you’re better off looking for legitimate alternatives, even if that’s just a $5 wager against your best friend on the next big League of Legends match.<\/p>\n

Can You Bet on eSports?<\/h2>\n

The short answer: it depends.<\/p>\n

Nobody’s stopping you from putting up informal wagers against your neighborhood pals, for example. But when it comes to formal systems of betting, complete with calculated sportsbooks and hundreds, if not thousands, of fellow bettors, the answer largely depends on where you live.<\/p>\n

Many countries impose restrictions on gambling, especially the online kind. Much of eSports takes place in virtual spheres, and potential bettors are also most likely to place wagers via online channels. In the eyes of many governments, then, betting activities related to eSports still fall under the “online gambling” umbrella. Unfortunately, there are countries like the US with laws that explicitly prevent operators based in other countries from offering online gambling services to their residents.<\/p>\n

How come there are still eSports betting websites in countries like the US?<\/h3>\n

Most of the time, these providers circumvent online gambling restrictions in one of 3 ways:<\/p>\n

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  1. For countries where prohibitions only apply to operators based in other <\/i>territories, it’s simple: the company operates directly in that country and registers for the appropriate licenses and certifications.<\/li>\n
  2. They use virtual currencies or digital assets. These can range from in-game skins and items (giving rise to the “skin betting” economy) to cryptocurrencies that can’t <\/i>be exchanged for cash. The key here is that any participants don’t bet real money, so these activities don’t fall within the technical definition of “gambling” set out in most laws. If you’d like to know more, check out our round-up of promising eSports cryptocurrencies<\/a>!<\/li>\n
  3. They use fantasy <\/i>drafts and leagues. The use of “fantasy” systems, where bettors create custom teams from their preferred players, adds a necessary layer of informality. Through the fantasy system, people aren’t betting directly on any teams or matches; instead, they’re reaping rewards based on the performance of their preferred players.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Whichever umbrella your preferred operator falls under, always make sure they have the necessary licenses and certifications for your country.<\/b><\/p>\n

    \"Intel

    IEM San Jose 2014. Courtesy of Intel.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Where Is <\/i>eSports Betting Legal?<\/h2>\n

    You can find regulated betting markets in over 100 countries around the world, including some in the EU. Here are some of the top territories where you can bet on eSports without worrying about breaking the law:<\/p>\n