ESIC and ggCircuit unveil groundbreaking esports venue certification system

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and ggCircuit have announced a pioneering partnership to develop the world’s first certified esports venue infrastructure, following the two entities’ formal signing ceremony at Global Esports Industry Week last month.

This collaboration combines the globally recognized integrity framework of ESIC with the venue management technology of ggCircuit, a subsidiary of American esports and online gambling company Esports Entertainment Group.

Aimed at creating a standardized, integrity-led certification system for esports venues around the world, the program will officially recognize venues that meet stringent standards as “Officially Certified Esports Venues.” These certified locations will be positioned as secure and competitive environments, capable of hosting high-quality esports tournaments with trust and transparency.

A world-first certified esports venue infrastructure

The certification system will be powered by ggCircuit’s suite of advanced technologies, including ggLeap software, ggRock software, and ggRock hardware, while being governed by ESIC’s comprehensive integrity protocols.

The program aims to provide esports stakeholders with a reliable network of integrity-compliant venues that can be trusted for hosting qualifiers, tournaments, and other competitive events. These venues will go through a structured, multi-phase deployment process, enabling operators worldwide to achieve and maintain certification.

“A global network of ESIC-certified venues offer a unique opportunity to anchor esports in environments that prioritise fairness, safety, and accountability,” ESIC CEO Stephen Hanna said. “By combining ESIC’s integrity expertise with ggCircuit’s technology and network of venues, we are proud to be establishing the first truly integrity-compliant global venue network.”

David Williams, SVP of ggCircuit, echoed the sentiment, pointing to the transformative potential of the collaboration. “By integrating ESIC’s integrity training and accreditation program into ggCircuit’s industry-leading platform, this partnership enables gaming venues to host professional-grade tournaments while providing publishers and tournament operators access to an international network of local venues for leagues and sponsored events.

The ESIC-ggCircuit collaboration is expected to evolve throughout the year, with more venues undergoing certification. As the network grows, it promises to offer tournament organizers, publishers, players, fans, and even esports bettors a trusted environment for localized and international play.

ESIC primarily focuses on games with well-established competitive ecosystems, featuring structured tournaments and professional leagues. Its oversight extends to some of the industry’s most high-profile titles, including CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.