The first operator to be granted permission to offer NJ sports betting markets on esports in New Jersey is also the first esports operator to determine it’s not worth it to do so.
Vie.gg, the esports-only betting platform created by Esports Entertainment Group, announced last week it would be shuttering the site in Spain, the UK, and in New Jersey, which was the only U.S. state in which it was live.
In an email message to its users, Vie.gg stated, “We have made the difficult decision to close Vie.gg. The site will remain open until November 1, 2022. Until then, you will be able to log in to close your account. Any accounts remaining open at that date will automatically be closed and any remaining balances of $1 or more will be returned by check sent to the address registered on the applicable account. If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Support team at help@vie.gg”
This marks the second time this month a company has left the New Jersey betting market, coming on the heels of Fubo deciding to get out of the sport betting industry.
Vie.gg launched in New Jersey in April of this year.
“We are pleased with the completion of the soft play period, which is a testament to all the hard work by our team over the past year,” Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, said in a statement at the time. “As the first licensed Esports-focused betting site in North America, we’re thrilled to fully launch the VIE.gg platform in New Jersey, one of the largest and most promising jurisdictions for sports wagering in the country.”
But the rollout was less than awesome, as the public did not flock to bet on their favorite League of Legends matches or Call of Duty battles
The parent company of Vie.gg — Esports Entertainment Group — has seen its stock tumble to 14 cents, down from its one-year high of $7.57 and its all-time high of $44.25.
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