The most notorious cybersport betting scandals
Bets are placed on the outcome of fights or competitions in almost all sports. Cybersports are no exception. And, like other sports, betting scandals sometimes come with them.
The “322” meme
One of the first cybersport betting scandals is the story of Alex Berezin. During StarSeries Season 6 in Dota 2 player RoX.KIS, knowing the potential of the team and his opponent that was to compete in the last round, bet on the latter. And the player himself played along with his rival during the game in every possible way. As a result, his $100 bet played out and the gamer received $322.
The scam was exposed and the number 322 became a meme, embodying the dishonesty of players and betting scandals in cybersport. Berezin himself explained his action by a simple lack of money and a desire to earn at least a little, as his team did not see any prize money in that tournament. The player got off relatively easy: he was disqualified for a year, and then made a very impressive showing in a fair fight.
Conspiracy of sixteen
The DOTA 2 tournament in 2017 turned into a huge scandal and mass disqualification of gamers. First, the collusion between the Mineski and MSI Evolution teams went public. The players decided to make money on betting and agreed to play a match according to a prearranged scenario. A little later, Arrow Gaming and Can’t Say Wips got into trouble.
They also pre-arranged their match, but in contrast to Mineski and MSI Evolution, these players were a bit more cunning. The two gamers coaxed their girlfriends into making the necessary bets to break the score. Some players from the ACES Gaming team were also involved in this scam. When the scam was discovered, the defendants flatly refused to admit their guilt, claiming that the girls acted on their own. But sufficient evidence was gathered to prove the gamers’ guilt, and 16 people are likely to be permanently barred from participating in major commercial tournaments.
Unfair favourite
Also in 2017, one of its favourites, Peruvian Freddy SmAsH Sina, was at the centre of a scandal at a DOTA 2 tournament. He decided to lose the match on purpose, as his friend had placed a solid bet on his opponent’s victory at the gamer’s request. The scam promised the participants a handsome payout as everyone bet on the Peruvian, which ensured that the opponent had the highest possible odds in the sweepstakes. However, the scam was uncovered. Freddy SmAsH Sina and his rival received an indefinite suspension.
The Peruvian addressed a penitential letter to the tournament organisers. In the letter he stated that he had been forced to commit a dishonest act due to his difficult financial situation, as he was working at a low-paying job and needed money badly all the time. Freddy SmAsH Sina has vowed to only play fair in the future. However, the DOTA 2 developers, who have the final say in determining whether players are allowed to play in tournaments, found the Peruvian’s explanation to be less than convincing. The decision to disqualify him has not been overturned.
