GameCo becomes the latest ESIC member

25 January 2017

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The Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC) has announced its latest partner in the form of GameCo Inc., the creator of the world’s first video game gambling machines (VGM™).  

Blaine Graboyes, GameCo

GameCo is focused on bringing skilled gaming machines to the casino floor, and a number of land based casino operators have taken a keen interest Its VGMs are up and running in Atlantic City with more to come this year, and the company opened a new office in Las Vegas. You can read our interview with GameCo Founder Blaine Graboyes here

Casinos are highly regulated and so this partnership with ESIC, a not for profit organisation aimed at ensuring integrity across esports, will stand it in good stead for further expansion of its products. 

ESIC Commissioner Ian Smith said of the news: “We are delighted that GameCo has decided to join ESIC. GameCo operates at the juncture between esports and betting, and embracing integrity efforts in this early stage of its operations speaks to the company’s impeccable ethos and values and its determination to get things right from day one, not just for itself, but for the wider community in which it operates.”

GameCo Co-Founder and CEO, Blaine Graboyes added: “We developed the concept for video game gambling from our experience in producing esports events for major publishers. There’s a massive opportunity to evolve casinos into VIP destinations for gamers, and solid industry regulations and standards will be critical to this experience. GameCo looks forward to contributing to ESIC to advance our shared goals.”

ESIC runs an anti-corruption education program which currently consists of face to face educational presentations and live interactive sessions with esports professional players, management and officials at major LAN events throughout the world. Already on the list of ESIC members are the likes of ESL, DreamHack, Sportradar and Intel whilst betting partners include major players such as Unikrn, Pinnacle, Betway and more. 

It has also been announced that ESIC will be launching an interactive online tutorial in the near future. This will be for completion by players in their own time to ensure all esports participants have a foundation level of knowledge and awareness about match-fixing, betting fraud and other threats to esports integrity. Without the support of GameCo, the betting partners and Sportradar, this tutorial could not have been produced.

Esports Insider says: We’re big supporters of ESIC and this is a step in the right direction for both ESIC and GameCo. We’ve tried out the VGMs for ourselves too and they’re far more fun than any slot machine….here’s hoping they expand quickly!