The eSports industry had grown exponentially since late 2009 when Riot Games released the League of Legends games. This industry has also seen tremendous growth in New Zealand. As a result, three sports: soccer, football, and baseball, have reported a constant increase in viewership. However several additional games have also captured the interests of the gaming and gambling community there. With thousands of tournaments taking place, the country established the New Zealand Esports Federation (NZESF) as a monitoring and investigation service mainly related to competitive integrity and youth protection.

New Zealand Esports Federation (NZESF)

The New Zealand eSports Federation became the National Sports Organisation in 2020. This means it is the only national sporting organization for esports approved by the New Zealand government. NZESF has thus become a member of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), which will protect youth and apply a competitive integrity policy. 

ESIC was set up in 2016 to ensure that eSports competitions remain fair and regulated. By entering partnerships with the most prominent online casino platforms in New Zealand and CasinoDeps brands, this non-profit entity reduces problems in eSports, including cases of corruption, match-fixing, and doping.

Mission objectives

Nominated as the voice of Esports in New Zealand, NZESF leads and supports the Kiwi esports players to enhance and safeguard the future of the industry. The regulatory body was…