CHINESE ONLINE GAMBLING ESPORTS REGULATIONS: WHO IS TARGETED FOR CRACKDOWNS? WHY ARE THERE DOUBLE STANDARDS?

Abstract

This article discusses the lack of strict enforcement of online gambling regulations in the Chinese esports industry despite the establishment of relevant regulations. The lack of criminal or administrative penalties for online gambling related to esports is demonstrated through three examples in this article: Chinese esports teams accepting sponsorships from online gambling companies, the lack of punishment for Chinese esports players involved in match-fixing, and the failure to prosecute an esports tycoon for running an online gambling house. The article argues that online gambling companies use cultural reframing strategies to avoid monitoring systems and that the political and economic impact of esports in China may contribute to this lack of enforcement. This article sheds light on the potential implications of the lack of regulation of online gambling in the Chinese esports industry.