Esports in Italy: an industry ready to take off (or still in search of its regulatory soul)?

Abstract

As the International Olympic Committee is considering whether Esports can and should qualify as sports, Esports events are becoming bigger and bigger worldwide, attracting fans as well as sponsors and investors looking for opportunities in this fast-developing economic sector. However, at a global level, the regulatory framework applicable to Esports tournaments is often fragmented and uncertain. This is the case in Italy, where an inadequate regulatory framework is likely to act as a disincentive for investors and, in particular, international investors. This article explores the regulatory pitfalls of the Italian legal ecosystem looking at other countries’ experiences (South Korea and France) from a comparative perspective.