The world of esports is rapidly growing. No longer a niche interest, it has become an achievable career aspiration for Millennials and Generation Z with professional players now comparable to traditional athletes in terms of earnings, fanbases, and more.
Gaming provides gamers and their fans with an exciting platform to build communities and expand businesses. But before organizing an esports tournament in your area, it’s essential to establish whether it is legal to do so there, as well as any legal repercussions for hosting it.
What Is Esports?
Esports is a competitive game that pits teams of people against one another. These players are contracted to different organisations and often win large sums of money as prizes. The gaming industry is growing rapidly, with millions spent annually on games, hardware and services related to it.
Many places consider esports legal. For instance, in the United States it’s legal to host a gaming tournament as long as you can prove that it doesn’t violate any laws. Nevertheless, some jurisdictions consider esports gambling and some countries have anti-gambling laws which make holding an esports tournament in those areas illegal.
How to Host an Esports Tournament
If you’re new to the esports world, start small local events first so that you can gain some experience before moving onto larger-scale competitions. Doing this will give you insight into what the community needs and how esports tournaments operate. Plus, ask questions and gather info on planning an event!
Step One: Locate a venue suitable for the game you plan to host. For example, an ideal venue for hosting either League of Legends or Dota 2 tournament will have plenty of space and all necessary audiovisual equipment, making it both enjoyable and exciting to watch the action take place.
When selecting a venue for your tournament, it’s essential that it offers all the necessary amenities. These could include large LED video walls, sound systems and enough computer power to support several hours of gameplay.
Selecting a location that provides enough room for all attendees is essential to making the event successful. This will enable participants to have an enjoyable experience and feel at ease, so take into account factors like seating arrangements, restroom facilities, power outlets and water sources.
Selecting an event venue with a good reputation for hosting esports events can make all the difference between success and failure. Doing so will guarantee you’ll attract attendees and keep them coming back for more.
Research the local esports scene and reach out to other organizers to gain an idea of what is expected when organizing an esports tournament, as well as how much it will cost you to host it. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect when organizing such an event.
