HOBOKEN, N.J. – Esports Entertainment Group has formed a new partnership with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City to host an esports tournament Jan. 22-23, 2022. According to the New Jersey-based EEG, it will be the first sanctioned esports skill-based wagering event in the United States. The tournament, which will be held in the Seminole Ballroom, will feature LANDuel, a player versus player wagering platform, with future plans for more esports betting events and permanent installations at the property.

“We are extremely excited to partner with one of the top global hotel and casino venues to kickstart the world of regulated peer-to-peer wagering in esports,” Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, said in a statement. “This partnership and event are a tremendous accomplishment for our brand and creates a wide variety of opportunities for our groups to explore more innovative esports events.”

Esports is a form of competitive video gaming whose popularity has soared in recent years. According to a report released earlier this year by Newzoo, a company that provides analytics, data and research about the games market, including esports, the global games live-streaming audience will reach about 730 million by the end of 2021.

The launch at Hard Rock will include a 256-player in-person tournament. Participants will be allowed to wager on themselves in each round of the event. Players will check-in and create a LANDuel account. Once they’re assigned to a computer, they will begin tournament play.

“We are extremely proud to offer a one-of-a-kind esports wagering experience in partnership with EEG,” Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, said in a statement. “We are confident that this innovative and highly regulated partnership will prove to be a success, contributing to our market-leading gaming offerings.”

An area will also be set up with computers for non-tournament participants to compete in side matches on LANDuel, allowing eligible tournament spectators or casino guests the ability to side-wager in their own matches outside of the tournament.

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