BETBY receives first ESIC Gold Standard for automated esports matches

Sportsbook supplier BETBY has become the first company to receive the Esports Integrity Commission's CPU v CPU Gold Standard, a certification for automated esports competitions used in betting markets. BETBY announced the award for its Betby Games products on 13 November.

European Gaming reported that the award followed an on-site audit, additional evidence submissions and an independent review. ESIC said the assessment took place in August.

The certification covers BETBY's hosting and automated operation of matches, as well as controls for results, system changes and access. The assessment also covered infrastructure security, monitoring and incident response.

BETBY has committed to an annual audit review to retain the award. The company already holds Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner status with ESIC.

ESIC launched the standard on 29 October for competitions in which software controls the participants and results are supplied to betting markets. It sets mandatory controls in 17 areas, including match systems, infrastructure and access to those systems.

The framework covers locally deployed machine-learning models, externally hosted large language model APIs and rules-based algorithms. It requires weekly vulnerability scans and sets repair deadlines of seven days for critical vulnerabilities, 30 days for high ones and 90 days for medium ones.

Certification is voluntary. Participants must join ESIC's Suspicious Betting Alert Network, and the commission says the award is neither a regulatory license nor a guarantee of future compliance.

Ilze Ramolina, BETBY's general counsel, said oversight must adapt as new types of esports content emerge. ESIC Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hanna said continuing compliance and cooperation with the commission were central to the award.

The certification applies to the CPU v CPU products in BETBY's proprietary esports portfolio. In August, BETBY added ePadel Tennis and eSumo to its Betby Games feed.