header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us

The rise (& rise) of e-sports

© Copyright LexisNexis 2025. All Rights Reserved.
10 September 2020 / Theo Barclay , Harry Burley
Issue: 7901 / Categories: Features , Sports litigation
printer mail-detail
27153
Theo Barclay & Harry Burley report on the next frontier for sports litigation
  • What are e-sports?
  • Opportunities and challenges for sports litigators.
  • The future.

In September 2019, the Vancouver Titans faced off against the San Francisco Shock. 20,000 spectators had paid up to US$299 for a ticket and millions more watched online. The event was the Overwatch League Grand Final—a leading computer gaming tournament. This was one of a series of live professional video gaming events that are drawing in more viewers than many traditional sports.

As a fast-expanding industry generating worth over US$1.5bn a year, e-sports has begun to dominate the work of many commercial lawyers who also specialise in traditional sports. Litigation specialists are next in line.

The courts in England and Wales are yet to deal with substantive e-sports claims, but the fast-growing nature of the industry and the commercial naivety of many participants means that this will not be the case for long.

What are e-sports?

The most popular games played

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Partner joins family law team inLondon

Jackson Lees Group—five promotions

Jackson Lees Group—five promotions

Private client division announces five new partners

Taylor Wessing—Max Millington

Taylor Wessing—Max Millington

Banking and finance team welcomes partner in London

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: Motor commissions & fiduciary duties
The landmark Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd—along with Rukhadze v Recovery Partners—redefine fiduciary duties in commercial fraud. Writing in NLJ this week, Mary Young of Kingsley Napley analyses the implications of the rulings
NLJ this week: The power of Interpol red notices
Barristers Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill and Rhys Davies of Temple Garden Chambers use the arrest of Simon Leviev—the so-called Tinder Swindler—to explore the realities of Interpol red notices, in this week's NLJ
NLJ this week: Approach with caution post-Mazur
Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] has upended assumptions about who may conduct litigation, warn Kevin Latham and Fraser Barnstaple of Kings Chambers in this week's NLJ. But is it as catastrophic as first feared?
Philip Sales is selected as next Deputy President
Lord Sales has been appointed to become the Deputy President of the Supreme Court after Lord Hodge retires at the end of the year
Tax shock ahead for partners?
Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are reportedly in the firing line in Chancellor Rachel Reeves upcoming Autumn budget
Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll