Germany: The Rise of Esports
By Oliver Fischer, Valoni Attorneys at Law, Zurich, Switzerland
With almost 640 million fans throughout the world, Esports is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and the global market for Esports is expected to grow in value to US$3.25 billion (around €2.85 billion) in 2025 and continue at a compound annual growth rate of 19.4%.
This phenomenal growth may be attributed to an increased awareness of Esports; an increase in livestreaming of games; and an increase in the international prize pool, which now amounts to over US$40 million (around €35.12 million) in major international tournaments!
In Germany, more than 76 per cent of the population, around 60 million, also are aware of Esports, and, in the world of Esports, Germany is home to big Esports companies, such as tournament organiser ESL, and significant Leagues, such as Riot Games’ LEC. Also, globally successful teams, such as G2 Esports and SK Gaming, are located in Germany.
In Germany, in the 25- to 34-year-old age group, 15 per cent of them play computer and video games competitively on a daily or weekly basis.
It may be claimed, therefore, that Esports is quickly becoming a social mass phenomenon in Germany as Esports has become at the global level!
Also, world-famous Esports organisations, such as SK Gaming, G2 Esports, ALTERNATE aTTaX and MOUZ (formerly known as Mousesports) were founded in Germany and have their headquarters in Germany as well.
There are moves afoot, spearheaded by the German Games Industry Association (Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V.), which is headquartered in Berlin, to make Germany the best location for the organisation and practice of Esports, and there are several important factors already in place making that possible.
For example, the 2018 Coalition Agreement of the German Federal Government acknowledges “the growing importance of the Esports’ landscape in Germany”.
Also, it is now easier for Esports’ players from non-EU countries to obtain so-called Esports visas to travel to Germany, for short or longer periods, to participate in major Esports’ competitions and also to watch them.
Furthermore, over 220 sports clubs in Germany have their own Esports’ sections, for example, FC Bayern Munich has a dedicated esports team, which participates in the Virtual Bundesliga Club Championship, and many German States promote Esports.
On the legal side, the organisation and practice of Esports give rise, amongst players and stakeholders, to copyright, contract, doping, match-fixing, sporting integrity and dispute resolution issues.
All these legal issues are quite complex, in practice, and need expert professional advice and assistance to deal with them effectively and in a timely manner.
Oliver Fischer may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
