The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has launched a new Certified Talent Agents Program to recognize and accredit individuals and organizations representing talent in esports, gaming, and entertainment.
In a press release, ESIC said, “The program establishes a benchmark for professional conduct, transparency, and ethical representation in line with ESIC’s mission to safeguard players, teams, and organizers across the global ecosystem.”
The organization says it is the “recognised guardian of the integrity of esports”, working to disrupt, prevent, investigate, and prosecute all forms of cheating and malpractice in esports.
The Certified Talent Agents Program has been developed to give creators and players in the industry better representation and protection from financial exploitation.
Program Can Reduce Match-Fixing by Protecting Players
By improving the environment around players, ESIC hopes it can reduce the prevalence of match-fixing in esports.
Recently, the organization has taken action against several Russian esports players, and suspended Team Senza earlier this month over allegations of account sharing and cheating. Last week, it also suspended Northern Lights over violations of its anti-corruption code.
Stephen Hanna, CEO of ESIC, commented, “By providing a clear, credible accreditation pathway for talent agents, we are addressing an area that has been largely unregulated and often problematic for players.
“The Program aims to protect players from exploitation by setting international standards for Certified Talent Agents, publishing a verified register, providing fair dispute resolution, and enhancing the credibility of compliant agents and agencies.”
SEG and Prodigy First to Join Program
ESIC announced two agencies, SEG and Prodigy Agency, as founding members of the program. Together, they have accredited 13 agents under the scheme.
Rowan Stroo, Division Director Esports at SEG, stated, “we are thrilled to be a foundational member of ESIC’s Certified Talent Agents Program, as there is still little to no regulation in the esports and gaming ecosystems on many topics, including talent representation.”
Jérôme Coupez, Founder and CEO of Prodigy Agency, added, “The lack of regulation in our industry has long created risks for players, and we have been leading the charge for years in pushing stakeholders to establish proper standards and official regulations for agents.”
ESIC said the program is now open for applications from agents and agencies seeking accreditation.
In addition to launching the program, ESIC has also partnered with several companies in an attempt to raise the integrity of esports. Earlier this month, it announced that Betby was the latest company to join as a Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner. Betby reported a strong Q3 this month with its esports portfolio driving growth.