A new organization, the Nevada Esports Alliance (NVEA) is aiming to make Nevada the premiere location for esports in the world. The organization officially debuted on February 9 with the singular goal of advancing the development of Nevada as a global esports hub.
Hub of Innovation
Though membership in NVEA is open to anyone interested in supporting Nevada’s emergence as an esports destination, initial members include the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), GameCo, Leet, Millennial Esports, Narus Advisors, Unikrn, the UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation, the UNLV International Gaming Institute, and William Hill U.S.
These organizations and more have already seen how the video gaming and gambling industries are overlapping in meaningful ways and, in fact, Nevada already hosts a thriving esports ecosystem. Not only do several esports teams and startups call Nevada home, but recent regulatory advancements regarding skill-based gaming and the first-of-its-kind esports lab at UNLV are providing a perfect foundation for esports innovation.
Las Vegas can already boast about being the location of the first legal bet on an esports game ever – which took place in November 2016 at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. Looking forward through 2017, the city is expected to host over a dozen major esports events that are expected to attract over 100,000 unique visitors to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas.
“As Nevada continues to reinvent itself to maintain its position as the entertainment capital of the world, resort operators are looking for ways to remain relevant and speak to the up and coming generation,” said Seth Schorr, a founding director of NVEA, CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and chairman of the Downtown Grand. “Esports is one of the most important platforms to speak to millennials and create experiences that will drive continued visitation to our state.”
Giving a Boost
To help fuel this esports development, NVEA will curate relevant research for members, host events to educate and information, and create a membership network that will serve as a resource for connecting companies and individuals who share the common goal of establishing Nevada as a world-renowned esports destination.
In addition to building up Nevada as an esports hub, NVEA will also work to develop commercial, regulatory and legal best practices at the intersection of video games and gambling. “Esports has had significant global impact. We’re aiming to foster Nevada’s role in this domain by bringing together stakeholders from all areas of esports, including industry, regulatory, academic, and more,” said UNLV International Gaming Institute Dr. Brett Abarbanel – another founding director of NVEA.
NVEA’s other founding directors include Chris Grove of Narus Advisors and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming and Jennifer Roberts of UNLV’s International Center for Gaming Regulation. Those interested in learning more about NVEA or becoming a member can learn more at http://nvesportsalliance.org/.
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