Esports Venue Certification Programs

On July 31, 2025, the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and ggCircuit announced the world’s first certified esports venue infrastructure, establishing a global standard for venue integrity. The program integrates ESIC’s robust integrity criteria with ggCircuit’s suite of technologies—including ggLeap and ggRock software and hardware—to assess and certify facilities. Venues that meet or exceed these requirements will earn the designation of Officially Certified Esports Venue, signaling compliance with rigorous standards for fairness, safety, and accountability. The certification is open to a spectrum of facilities, from major arenas to local esports centers, ensuring both large-scale tournaments and grassroots events occur in integrity-compliant environments.

The certification process will follow a multi-phase rollout, granting venues a structured pathway to fulfill individual requirements and achieve certification. Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, described the initiative as a pivotal component of integrity infrastructure, providing consistent competitive expectations across the esports ecosystem. David Williams, Senior Vice President of ggCircuit, explained that embedding ESIC’s training and accreditation into ggCircuit’s platform will enable venues to host professional-grade tournaments and offer publishers and tournament operators access to an international network of compliant local venues. Leveraging ggCircuit’s existing network of esports centers, universities, and LAN arenas, this program aims to create a scalable, transparent framework for hosting competitive gaming events worldwide.

Image Credit: ESIC, ggCircuit