French Gambling Operator FDJ Jumping Into Esports With Three New Competitions
French national gambling operator FDJ announced it is entering the esports market and “will launch competitions in partnership with Webedia,” according to Alexandre Bailleul of SPORTBUZZ BUSINESS. Webedia is an online media company that has partnered with Paris St. Germain Esports. FDJ is “committing to the creation” of an annual two-season professional competition called the “FDJ Masters League” that will include a €20,000 ($21,173) cash prize. The company will also launch amateur tournaments forming the “FDJ Open Series” in March, as well as the "FDJ Gaming Tour" for mobile games and casual events. FDJ General Dir Stéphane Pallez said, “The ambition of the FDJ 2020 Project is to propose the most diverse offering, one that is more interactive with players and addresses young adults. That is why FDJ wants to invest in the development of esports in France” (SPORTBUZZ BUSINESS, 2/23). ESPORTS INSIDER’s Sam Cooke reported betting on esports in France “remains illegal for the time being but this is expected to change in the near future.” Sponsorships such as this, and Betclic’s arrangement with streaming firm Eclypsia, suggest that “big bookmakers believe there is opportunity.” Last year’s “Numeric Law” gave esports a “legal framework to work within and this bodes well for wider industries involved in the space” (ESPORTS INSIDER, 2/22).
PIQUÉ ESPORTS: DOT ESPORTS' Thiemo Brautigam reported Barcelona's Gerard Piqué "announced a big esports project" on Wednesday. While admitting he did not "know about esports six months ago, Piqué got facinated quickly and decided to get involved." Rather than buying into an existing team, like former Brazil int'l Ronaldo did when he acquired a 50% stake of Brazilian team CNB e-Sports, Piqué "wants to start his own thing." He has not revealed further details, "but promised it to be a very large project" (DOT ESPORTS, 2/23).