ESG Gaming founder Lee Willows to provide expert insight on esports and gambling at ESI Lisbon | Yogonet International

London-based not-for-profit ESG Gaming has announced that founder Lee Willows will be part of the Esports Betting and Gambling panel being held as part of the ESI Lisbon festival, set to take place at the MEO Arena in Lisbon from September 23 to 25.

Drawing on his experience as the founder of safer gambling charity YGAM, Lee will provide expert insight alongside Darius C. Gambino, Partner Saul Ewing LLP; Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director UNLV International Gaming Institute; and Urim Bajrami, Partner Stadler Völke.

Headline topics will include responsible gambling practices, the protection of minors, and measures to combat match-fixing and illicit activities. The discussion is designed to provide key insights into the possible future regulatory landscape of esports betting.

Following the Esports Betting and Gambling panel, Lee Willows will host a Roundtable at the invitation-only Esports Leaders’ Summit. The Roundtable will focus on the paucity of esports research and will cover topics including mental health, sponsorship, player burnout, and the social impact of gaming and esports.

Previewing ESI Lisbon, which named ESG Gaming as its official not-for-profit partner, Lee Willows said: “First of all I am extremely grateful and humbled to be participating in what will be a landmark celebration of the esports, video games, and creator economy. ESI Lisbon is set to be the largest b2b event and industry festival in this crossover and the place where the key issues of the day are discussed and debated.”

He continued: “When we incorporated ESG Gaming in August 2021 our mission was to collaborate with all aspects of the digital entertainment industry in order to ensure the consumer experience is open, inclusive, and positive.

“We are passionate advocates of positive play which means raising awareness of issues amongst the esports community, conducting research and providing thought leadership on topics including dark markets and the metaverse, and providing an understanding of how VR and esports can reduce loneliness and social isolation among the elderly.

ESG Gaming will be using its presence at ESI Lisbon to showcase its VR Dome, which visitors can experience from the charity’s stand within the ESI area, adjacent to the Super Stage entrance.

“ESI Lisbon will be a melting pot of ideas covering what is an evolving industry and we will be looking to engage with gaming publishers and gambling operators to explore mutually beneficial collaborations around the ESG Gaming social purpose,” Willows concluded.