Australian police investigate CSGO and Overwatch teams participating in match-fixing ring

In August, Australian police arrested six CSGO players on suspicion of match-fixing: The players were accused of participating in ‘throw games’, and betting on their own matches. Now, ABC News reports that the police have also received reports of a professional Overwatch team participating in the matchmaking.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson said they received reports of CSGO match-fixing from the Sportsing Integrity Intelligence Unit, and also reported alleged that the owners of an Overwatch Contenders team had links to organized crime. The team is accused of being involved in matches with “irregular betting”.

Paterson said. “I can absolutely guarantee that this is not the case [cáo buộc] solely related to match-fixing or casual betting of the esports environment in the Australian market.”

Professor Mark Johnson of the University of Sydney says one of the reasons corruption continues to spread is that esports is still misunderstood by the general public. “Games are more valuable than movies and music combined, but they haven’t been taken seriously,” Johnson said. “I don’t really watch traditional sports but I know what they are, what if you If you don’t follow esports, you don’t know anything about them.”

Even those who are familiar with esports may still not be aware of the seriousness, and consequences of their actions. Paterson said the five people just arrested were all aged 20 or younger and with no criminal history, but were facing up to 10 years in prison for corruption related to betting results.

“They are committing corrupt practices… at a relatively young age, but the consequences are severe,” he continued. “The large number of young people participating in betting, both in high school and in college, is at an alarming rate. What I see is that no one is doing anything.”

The bet amount in this CSGO case is $30,000, but it’s nothing compared to the prize money coming from top esports tournaments: 16-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf just won $3 million in the Fortnite World Cup, and The International 2019 awards now have a record $34.3 million.

Victoria Police are currently investigating allegations of CSGO match-fixing: Paterson believes there are “dozens” more people who could be arrested once the investigation is over.