Parimatch Holding has joined the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) to combat fraud in esports.

Parimatch will provide ESIC with betting data in order to help investigate possible cases of match-fixing and fraud. Parimatch’s membership in the ESIC underlines its belief that it is vital to promote openness and honesty in traditional sports as much as esports.

According to ESIC, the number of betting alerts potentially connected to match-fixing nearly doubled between 2017 and 2018. To oppose this and other threats to esports, ESIC continuously extends its Members and Supporters list, for which the bookmaker community is a key focus.

“We are delighted to welcome Parimatch into our global anti-match fixing supporter network. To have a key betting operator, with a huge esports offering in Russian language territories, become a member is a big step forward for ESIC as we seek to expand our suspicious betting alert system. The team at Parimatch has been wonderful and very professional to work with, and we are looking forward to continuing our cooperation with them,” ESIC commissioner Ian Smith said.

“Parimatch stands for complete transparency and honesty in working with its clients. We care about fair play, not only in traditional sports but also in esports, as the fastest growing and most promising category. We do not see reason for different approaches to traditional sports and esports, and respect the choice of each fan. That is why we did not hesitate to become a partner to ESIC in the fight against fraud, and thank the ESIC team for their initiative. Targeted actions aimed at identifying suspicious matches in esports can help the entire industry to be sustainable and reliable, both for people who are keen on betting and ordinary fans of esports,” Stepan Shulga, Head of esports at Parimatch, said.

343 Industries has selected Esports Engine, a recently-established operations company, to organise esports for Halo Infinite.

The Halo Championship Series will return with the release of the upcoming first-person shooter, with Esports Engine and developer 343 Industries planning to “build the greatest esports program Halo has ever seen,” according to a blog post.

Halo Infinite is set to release during the 2020 holiday season. In November, 343 Industries announced plans to revive the Halo Championship Series for Halo Infinite. The company also plans to help grow the global presence of the esport and work closely with team organisations to make participation more appealing for them.

“We are extremely excited to work with 343 Industries as their Global Management Partner and leverage our rich Halo history and 20 years of esports operations experience to help build the best program for players, fans, teams, and tournament operators around the world,” Adam Apicella, CEO of Esports Engine, said.

“From our experience running Halo for so many years and also being a third-party operator trying to make ends meet – now being able to help design a program that’s something the fans want, something the players want, that’s great for the teams, great for the other operators – it’s super exciting to be involved in such a monumental project,” Adam Apicella added.

WHAT:

• The NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and the first official esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league, will hold the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft delivered by Panera Bread.
• All 23 NBA 2K League teams, including expansion teams Hornets Venom GT and the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai, will complete their six-person roster at the four-round draft, which will be livestreamed on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
• Wizards District Gaming will have the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft delivered by Panera Bread, as determined by the NBA 2K League Draft Lottery that took place in October.  Knicks Gaming will have the second overall pick, and Kings Guard Gaming will have the third overall pick.  For the complete 2020 NBA 2K League Draft order, click here.

WHO:

• Approximately 100 of the best NBA 2K players in the world
• NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue
• Michelle Ormes, Director Growth Initiatives, Panera Bread
• Current NBA 2K League players and coaches

WHEN: (Saturday, February 22; Media may arrive at 4 p.m.)

• 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue Media Availability
• 4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – 2020 NBA 2K League Draft Red Carpet
• 5:40 p.m. – Draft-Eligible Player Photo
• 6 p.m. – 2020 NBA 2K League Draft Delivered by Panera Bread Begins

WHERE:

• Terminal 5

610 W. 56^th Street

New York, NY 10019