A Short Treatise on Esports and the Law: How America Regulates Its Next National Pastime

Abstract

With its tremendous popularity among Millennials and Generation Z, esports represents one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. sports and entertainment market. It is the source of massive amounts of venture capital inflow, unprecedented marketing and media dollars, and altogether new forms of social networks and fan engagement. Nevertheless, the industry of esports is still in its infancy and faces legal challenges that have not yet been fully studied by either legal academics or practitioners. This Article provides an in-depth analysis of the primary legal issues that face the esports industry as it pursues its path toward becoming America’s next major national pastime.

Keywords: Esports, regulation, gaming, sports law, emerging industries

JEL Classification: K00, K10, K14, K33, K40, K49, L50, L59, L63, L80, L83, L86, L89, O34