Cover-Credits:
AFK Gaming
Esports betting has become a massive industry with a market size that is projected to reach $18.49 Billion USD by 2026. Of course, this, in turn, means that the match-fixing industry, which seeks to influence match results and outcomes, is also expected to be extremely lucrative. So it is no surprise that match-fixing continues to be a long, persistent problem that has also plagued several esports titles over the years, including Dota 2.
The billion-dollar esports industry is evidently rising by the day, however, it is yet to provide a stable career for all its athletes. Dota 2, among other game titles, has no solid scene for tier two and below players to rely on. This might be one of the major reasons why players resort to match-fixing and willingly risk their careers as it can fulfill their lack of dough. The recent change to the DPC format shows slight cultivation for the tier two scene, however, a stable career allows for more than just providing food on the table.
Dota 2 witnesses the betting industry being heavily ingrained in its community. Almost all the teams in Dota 2 are affiliated with betting companies in one way or the other. Even the top ones, including TI8 and TI9 champions, OG, (partnered with FUN88), Team Secret, (partnered with Jingjibao), and PSG.LGD (partnered with Betway) are affiliated with these companies. Tournament organizers have close ties with betting sponsors as well. BeyondTheSummit, an established organizer often collaborates with LOOT.BET for its worldwide tournaments, with the likes of ESL and WePlay! partnering with gambling companies like 1xBet. The influence of the betting industry even within the top of the Dota 2 chain shows that it is heavily ingrained into Dota 2 esports and is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
