Interview: Thunderpick on fighting match-fixing in esports
Match-fixing in Counter-Strike has been an issue for years, significant enough for even the FBI to investigate it. But with the game experiencing a surge in popularity and prize pools expanding, integrity has never been more crucial. To get a clearer picture, we spoke with Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick, a leading esports betting platform.
Thunderpick recently joined the Esports Integrity Commission’s (ESIC) Anti-Corruption Supporter Network, committing to help prevent, detect, and investigate corruption in esports. Sanders shared her perspective on the fight against match-fixing, the role of fans and players, and why fair play underpins the future of competitive gaming.
Q. What is the Esports Integrity Commission’s Anti-Corruption Supporter Network, and what does being part of that network entail?
Kelly Sanders: ESIC is the leading authority on integrity in esports, and being part of that network means supporting their vision for a corruption-free esports ecosystem. As a betting platform and a tournament sponsor, integrity and authenticity are at the heart of what we do. For Thunderpick, our role in the network involves a commitment to providing information and data to ESIC in their efforts to recognize, penalise, and prevent corruption in esports.
Q. What is the current state of match-fixing in esports? Is it still rife, or has it reduced?
Kelly Sanders: I think there will always be a cat-and-mouse game with people who have bad intentions. Esports across the board is definitely in a much better spot now than it was in its infancy. More and more games are being built with the esports ecosystem in mind, and having a genuine path to professional play, especially with streaming being so common, prevents a lot of would-be match-fixers from even dipping their toes in. I think players are recognising the dangers and the threat to their future for short-term gain.
Q. How are players and fans fighting back against corruption in esports?
Kelly Sanders: Games are so heavily surveilled in today’s esports landscape. Not just by professionals like ESIC and tournament organisers, but also by fans. With so much coverage and access to replays, both casual viewers and aspiring pros have the tools to spot suspicious behaviour. That makes it much harder to get away with it than before.
Q. What guardrails are in place that are working against match-fixing, and how optimistic are you about the future?
Kelly Sanders: The push from rights holders towards supporting esports helps create an authentic and ideally corruption-free environment, not just at the Tier 1 level, but also for Tier 2 and below. The path to pro and the income opportunities that come with it, supported by rights holders and major organisations, guard against potential match-fixers by dissuading them before they even have the chance to be approached.
Q. What does fair play mean to you, and why is it important?
Kelly Sanders: Esports is at its best when every game matters. For viewers and players alike, games that are entirely down to the moment are what keep us engaged. Fair play matters to us as providers, too. We want an exciting product that fans can remember for the big moments, and we want bettors to be confident that every clutch or ace comes from the players’ own skill—nothing else.
Q. From online tournaments to LAN finals, how do you keep integrity consistent across formats?
Kelly Sanders: LAN is unique in that the setups are provided by the tournament organiser, referees are there in person, and everything can be scrutinised in real-time. Online events pose different challenges; players are on their own setups, in their own spaces, and even factors like ping can affect performance.
To maintain standards, we use additional referee staff monitoring players remotely, with proper communication in their native languages. Even small details, like language barriers, can create unfair advantages. Addressing these helps ensure a level playing field for all teams.
Q. Do you think fans are sometimes too quick to assume match-fixing when their team loses?
Kelly Sanders: We’re in an age of information. Even casual fans are more informed about game mechanics and player habits than bettors of the past. Esports is still young, but it continues to trend in the right direction. Skepticism will always exist, especially online, but people need to remember that players aren’t machines. Sometimes a team just has an off day, it doesn’t mean something suspicious is going on.
Esports thrives when fair play takes centre stage
The fight against match-fixing in esports is far from over, but progress is clear. With ESIC, tournament organisers, rights holders, and betting platforms like Thunderpick pushing for higher standards, the industry is building stronger safeguards against corruption. As Sanders emphasises, esports thrives when fair play takes centre stage, because that’s when every round, every clutch, and every win truly matters.
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