Ecstatic Companions With Playing Blocking Software program Gamban After Proprietor’s Downside Playing

Danish esports crew Ecstatic has introduced Gamban, a gambling-blocking software program, as its new sponsor. This marks the primary time an esports crew has partnered with a playing prevention group, moderately than a playing firm.

Co-owner Oliver “zipeL” Behrensdorff stated that his historical past of drawback playing influenced the choice to crew up with Gamban.

“That is private for me,” stated Behrensdorff. “I’ve had intervals of drawback playing myself, and putting in Gamban was my first step towards change. We’re not right here to high-road anybody. We’re right here to supply a lifeline to those that want one.”

Partnership Goals To Assist Downside Gamblers

In a press launch, the corporate stated it hopes the transfer will elevate consciousness of drawback playing for individuals who want it.

The partnership acknowledged it intends to do the next:

“1. Launch a group Discord hub providing nameless peer teams, skilled talks, and sensible instruments for anybody seeking to pause or cease playing.

Make assist straightforward and stigma-free, particularly for younger followers who really feel misplaced in conventional help teams.

Show that non-gambling sponsors can thrive in esports, unlocking this hard-to-reach demographic for mainstream manufacturers, and provoking different industries to spend money on the area.”

Different esports gamers have gone public about their playing issues. Fellow Scandinavian Tommy “Taiga” Le revealed that he fought playing dependancy throughout his time as an esports participant.

Ecstatic notice that taking cash from playing corporations is the norm, however hopes the unprecedented transfer to accomplice up with a hurt prevention group will encourage others.

“For ten years, Gamban has helped folks block entry to playing on their gadgets and start their restoration,” stated Matt Zarb-Cousin a co-founder of Gamban. “Partnering with a crew that rejects playing sponsorship completely is a robust first step. We hope this evokes others to spend money on esports with out exploiting dependancy.”

Playing operators sponsor greater than 80% of the highest 50 CS2 groups. Taiga’s former crew, OG, stated it was concentrating on betting sponsors not too long ago attributable to monetary troubles.

The pattern applies to different sports activities as nicely. In soccer, two-thirds of golf equipment throughout 31 main European leagues nonetheless carry betting sponsors.

Some leagues, nonetheless, have positioned restrictions on sponsorships. The Netherlands banned playing promoting throughout all sports activities earlier this 12 months. Gamban has an current partnership with the Dutch regulator, the KSA.

Moreover, Italy and Spain prohibit soccer groups from displaying playing corporations on the entrance of their shirts. The Premier League in England has additionally voted for a front-of-shirt ban from subsequent season.

“Whereas playing cash pours in, no sponsorships till now have put participant welfare first,” stated Ecstatic.