Guardianship of Esports Match-Fixing: Distrust, Deprioritization, and Dismissiveness

• In Event: Routine Activities Theory and the Internet

Abstract

Recent incidents of crime and deviance in esports are similar those infamous issues plaguing traditional sports for decades. Specifically, the esports industry appears to be an attractive target for those seeking illicit gain through match-fixing. Esports match-fixing is the responsibility of various “guardians” including game publishers, tournament organizers, sport federations, government agencies, betting companies, and law enforcement. The complexity of esports guardianship dynamics remains unexplored in relation to match-fixing. This study addresses this lack of knowledge through 15 semi-structured interviews with representatives of esports, sport governance, betting, law enforcement, and national government in six European countries (Austria, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Greece). Inductive analysis using flexible coding reveals a lack of capable guardianship due to distrustful handlers, deprioritization amongst managers, and dismissive guardians. According to Routine Activities Theory (RAT), the lack of capable guardianship in esports increases the risk of match-fixing incidents. This research expands criminological inquiry towards a novel type of crime and advances theoretical application of RAT into esports crimes. From a practical standpoint, the work raises awareness towards the shortcomings of guardianship in esports. As such, the findings provide a foundation for improving guardianship of esports in order to address match-fixing.

Author

• Alban Zohn, University of New Haven