Nevada Green Lights Betting on Counter-Strike – ESL Pro League Season 11: North America

Betting options have been boosted in Nevada after it was confirmed state regulators have approved wagers on Counter-Strike – ESL Pro League Season 11: North America.

Esports are a growing industry in the gambling sector, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board published new legislation on Wednesday approving three types of bets on this specific league. Those are:

• Head-to-Head
• Winner of Each Match
• Overall Season Winner

It’s specified that licensed in Nevada bookmakers, such as William Hill, must notify the Enforcement Division of related terms and that all wagers have to be registered before the beginning of the match. Bookies are also free to determine their own odds within the rules, as well as offer separate wagers pending “a separate application and approval.”

The changes mean Nevada is the latest state to grow their esports betting ventures in recent months. New Jersey’s Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee unanimously advanced a bill that will allow for esports betting if approved earlier in March, per Pat Ralph of PhillyVoice.com.

The gambling industry has, for the most part, been hit hard in the absence of mainstream sports as a result of the coronavirus. Almost all casinos in the United States have been shut in response to the pandemic, and the American Gaming Association said the loss of projected betting revenue   could see the U.S. economy lose out on up to $43.5 billion (h/t Justin Birnbaum of CNBC). The BBC reported gambling in east Africa had dropped by 99 percent as a result of the sports shutdown.

It’s perhaps unsurprising Nevada has responded by moving ahead with its legislation for esports, one of the few legal betting avenues that can go ahead despite the spread of COVID-19.

Seasons 11 of the Counter-Strike – ESL Pro League regular season was supposed to be held in a studio in Malta, but the online tournament was instead moved back to a regional format.

Hamburg-based team mousesports will attempt to defend their crown after winning the Season 10 grand finals, with 100 Thieves taking an early lead in the North America league table.