The stakes of the first known video game competition, Spacewar in 1972, were pretty low — the winner walked away with a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine. Nearly 50 years later, esports is a $1 billion global business, hosting events that draw thousands of live spectators and hundreds of millions across streaming platforms.
Esports now rival even the most popular “real world” athletic contests.
With growth comes changing needs for and approaches to risk management. Just as top esports athletes prioritize strategy in competitive gaming, successful esports organizations should adopt a strategic approach to risk management.
Esports risk professionals face many of the challenges as their peers in other industries, from protecting venues from physical damage to protecting brand and reputations. And they also have unique concerns, such as the potential damage a cyberattack could bring to their technology-heavy platforms and protecting players’ health.
Marsh's team of esports and gaming risk specialists understands the industry and its risks. Backed by Marsh’s global insurance coverage placement and risk consulting teams, we can advise you on how to navigate and manage your increasingly complex ecosystem.