At least three NFL teams said that they are "considering signing top gamers of EA’s Madden NFL video game to represent the franchises in tournaments," according to Eben Novy-Williams of BLOOMBERG NEWS. EA recently "revamped the format for its pro tournaments around Madden and is adding four new events." It is also "expanding its television and digital broadcasts" and offering $1M in prize money. EA Chief Competition Officer Peter Moore said that the company has "met with the NFL about sponsoring gamers." Moore: "I don’t know why teams wouldn’t. It feels like a very small expense for what seems to get a large amount of publicity." Novy-Williams writes e-sports can "quickly extend a brand and broaden a fan base." Signing video game players is "an extension of the move over the past few years to professionalize e-sports." EPL clubs Manchester City and West Ham have "signed professional video gamers to represent the clubs when playing FIFA." Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 and La Liga club Valencia have "invested in full teams of video gamers" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/15).
GAME PLAN: BLOOMBERG NEWS' Brustein & Novy-Williams noted video game publisher Valve, which makes "Dota 2" and "Counter Strike: Global Offensive," is "walking away from the rapidly expanding gambling ecosystem." Facing a "wave of criticism and legal action," Valve's decision is "potentially destroying an industry" that was expected to take in $7.4B in bets this year (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/13). Meanwhile, the DAILY DOT's Sam Nordmark noted streaming service Twitch is "forbidding broadcasters" from showing third party "CS:GO" gambling sites (DAILYDOT.com, 7/14).
