Esports, short for electronic sports, is competitive video gaming at its finest and is one of the fastest growing interactive digital industries globally.
At its core, esports is a competitive sport which allows players from all over the world to compete in playing AAA video game titles, both individually (for example, in FIFA18 or Super Smash Brothers) or as part of a team (for example, CS:GO). For those players at the top of their game, participating in professional esports teams and competitions has become a career opportunity. Due to the digital nature of the sport, esports competitions are being held online as well as in stadiums worldwide.
While still in its early stages, the Australian esports industry is growing at a rapid rate, with popular and respected tournaments such as the Intel Extreme Masters being held in Sydney annually, to the delight of thousands of Australian fans.
At this year’s Australasian Casino and Gaming Regulators’ Conference, Jamie Nettleton gave a presentation on the development of esports and the current issues (including legal issues) that surround this growing industry.