The organization of esports tournaments: An overview

In the first part of this chapter, key factors that contribute to the shaping of esports tournament ecosystems are laid out, followed by an overview of the approaches that the leading publishers have implemented in connection with the competitive dimension of their games. In the second part of this chapter, a methodological approach, designed around some ‘must address’ points/questions, is offered for use by practitioners to identify potential regulatory hurdles and restrictions. The national rules of some selected jurisdictions are then examined at a high level with a view to providing tangible examples of the regulatory hurdles that may arise in connection with esports tournament structures and the associated compliance implications. In the third part, the present esports landscape will be looked at from a governance standpoint, with a view to putting into perspective some of the factors that may bring about changes to the current model.