Activision Blizzard has enlisted Sportradar to oversee a betting integrity program for Overwatch League and Call of Duty League. In a deal announced later this morning, Sportradar will start monitoring betting activity related to the two esports properties, and it will work with players on education and developing an app to anonymously report integrity issues. Partnering with Sportradar is an indicator that Activision Blizzard wants to become more active in the betting space. Activision Blizzard Head of Strategic Initiatives Jason Hahn said in a prepared statement, “As fans increasingly engage with wagering on matches, we need to ensure we are doing as much as we can to proactively protect our ecosystem.”
Some U.S. sportsbooks started taking bets on esports during the sports shutdown. Sportradar works with more than 80 sports properties for integrity services, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
