Reading Time: 3 minutes
The new agreement provides police with real-time alerts of information from around the globe to target suspicious betting activities and prevent betting-related match fixing in esports.
In February of this year, Victoria Police signed a Letter of Arrangement with the Esports Integrity Commission.
This will enable Victoria Police’s Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit to receive real-time alerts on betting from ESIC for esports matches that exhibit suspicious betting. Detectives can then begin an investigation as quickly as possible if required.
ESIC is an international not-for profit organisation that includes government agencies, national esports associations and tournament organizers from all over the world.
The organization was founded in 2015, with the goal of disrupting, stopping and prosecuting any form of cheating or doping in esports.
The SIIU of Victoria Police conducted the first Australian investigation in 2019 into match-fixing within esports.
Five men have been charged with a variety of offences, including engaging in conduct which corrupts or corrupts a betting result and using corrupt conduct for betting purposes.
Maximum penalties for these crimes are 10 years in prison.
Victoria Police takes match-fixing as seriously in esports, as they do traditional sport.
The 2013 amendments to the Victorian Crimes Act created four criminal offenses directly related to corruption of the betting result of an event. The offences are not specific to a particular sporting event but refer instead to the corruption a betting result. The law covers any corruption of a betting result in an esports competition.
Anyone with information about illegal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to
Quotes attributed to Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert, Intelligence and Covert Support Command
The international nature of sports gambling and esports can complicate match-fixing investigations.
This Letter of Agreement will allow ESIC to share real-time suspicious gambling alerts – particularly from offshore betting operators – with our detectives. This allows investigations into suspected match fixing to begin almost immediately.
“Unfortunately, due to the demographics of esports players, they can potentially be more vulnerable than players in traditional sports.
They are usually young adults, who may be more vulnerable to corruption by criminals due to the low prize money and lack of attention to integrity and education from game developers.
Victoria Police will continue to target any infiltration of esports, including organised crime syndicates.
“Alongside the agreement with ESIC we have developed strong relationships with many esports stakeholder and wagering operators and we will continue to work with them to target any suspicious activities.
It’s important to understand that these crimes are serious criminal offenses with severe penalties. We will take all reports of suspicious activities seriously.
Quotes attributed to Stephen Hanna (Director of Global Strategy, Esports Integrity Commission):
“Collaboration is key between law enforcement and the Esports Integrity Commission to ensure a safe and fair environment for esports fans and competitors.” We applaud Victoria Police for its proactive and engaging approach in working with ESIC to deter and prevent match-fixing.
“Esports are a global industry and require a global response in order to maintain integrity. We can protect the integrity and identify suspicious betting activities by working with law enforcement agencies like Victoria Police.
This Letter of Arrangement represents the Esports Integrity Commission’s and Victoria Police’s agreement on the importance to disrupt, prevent, and prosecute match-fixing within esports. We look forward in continuing to work with Victoria Police, and other law enforcement agencies worldwide to safeguard the future esports.”
