Cybersports video monitoring: how video surveillance helps in esports

Cybersports and esports arena

From ~$325 million USD global revenue in 2015, esports has evolved to an industry expected to generate $4.9 billion USD in revenue in 2025.
With over 680 million viewers worldwide and prize pools of $70+ USD million across disciplines like LOL, Apex Legends, Overwatch, and PUBG, the contemporary cybersports scene demands top-tier organization, logistics, and above all – security.

Over the years, video surveillance has become a critical component at esports events, helping maintain the tournaments integrity, facilitate the safety of players, staff, and spectators, and protect valuable equipment. Let’s explore how cybersports video monitoring addresses the unique challenges of the esports world.

How video surveillance helps in esports

Cheating prevention: Video surveillance systems help win the fight on cheating;

Player and team safety: Video security can aid in protecting players, staff members, and the audience.

Venue and equipment protection: High-stakes games call for high-profile equipment. Video monitoring helps keep an eye on it;

Regulatory compliance: From fire hazards to state regulations, video surveillance can help ensure compliance.

Access control: Automation of routine processes like entry to restricted areas.

Beyond security: Gather statistics, learn more about the audience, compile promotional materials.

Cybersports video monitoring: Cheating prevention

The flagship event of the Dota 2 gaming scene – The International – boasted an impressive $40 million USD prize pool in 2021 – a record in esports history up to date. 2025’s Fortnite Championship Series is projected to have a total prize pool of $8 million USD, and the multi-game 2025 Esports World Cup’s is to reach $70+ million USD collectively. With such budgets at stake, it’s important to ensure the fair play spirit of the competition, countering any cheating incidents. Video surveillance helps prevent cheating by monitoring for hardware tampering or unauthorized software, banning external communication or restricting coaching access beyond official team communication channels, and more.

Anti-cheating cybersports video monitoring

Cybersports video monitoring: Player and team safety

LAN esports events bring together players, staff, and large crowds of spectators, often filling entire stadiums. Ensuring the physical safety of everyone involved requires effective crowd control and proactive security measures like
* the Slip and Fall detection able to see if a person has fallen down,
* the Detector of Abandoned Objects to spot unattended bags,
* the Object Recognition that can be trained to detect weapons and other dangerous items even in a crowded place.

This all showcases how video surveillance plays a vital role in managing potential risks and maintaining a secure environment for all participants.

Cybersports video monitoring: Venue and equipment protection

The need for robust security in esports extends beyond player safety and fair play; it’s also crucial for protecting valuable assets and expensive gear. Following a high-profile incident involving the theft of a team coach’s Mercedes keys backstage at a Dota 2 event, video surveillance has become an essential safeguard for all equipment at esports events. Alongside their investigation potential, video cameras are proven to have a significant anti-theft effect, and that holds true at esports competitions: bootcamps and practice rooms, backstage areas, and even stage booths.

Video surveillance in esports: protection of venue, gear

Cybersports video monitoring: Regulatory compliance

Video surveillance plays a crucial role in meeting legal and regulatory requirements. Countries like China and South Korea have strict guidelines regarding surveillance in public spaces and at events with large gatherings. Video surveillance systems can be implemented to ensure compliance with these regulations. Furthermore, surveillance recordings and live streams can be invaluable tools for investigating accidents, demonstrating due diligence in insurance claims or legal proceedings, and confirming adherence to safety protocols. Let’s not forget how during the Coronavirus outbreak and in the post-pandemic era, video surveillance played a vital role in upholding health and safety regulations.

Gathering large groups of people under one roof also imposes responsibilities in the fight against fire hazards, too. Advanced video surveillance systems can detect early signs of smoke and use various notifications for instant reactions.

Cybersports video monitoring: Access control

Modern video surveillance systems offer far more than just security monitoring. Automation is increasingly integrated, providing added value in esports environments. Facial recognition technology, now common in many video surveillance solutions, provides a powerful tool for contactless access control. This allows for secure and efficient entry for staff into restricted areas, teams to training camps (bootcamps), and attendees to stadium venues.

Video surveillance systems are easily integrated with perimeter security infrastructure and can be used, for example, in combination with digital locks.

Cybersports video monitoring: Beyond security

Like in many other businesses, video surveillance in multi-million esports competitions can double as a tool for other tasks beyond security to:

gather statistics on attendance with tools like visitors counter, counting of new customers or the tool to establish if seats are taken or free;

get the idea on how satisfied game viewers are with the overall experience or the service provided – with tools like Emotion Detector;

compile promotional materials, restream video feeds to platforms like YouTube with tools like Streaming to YouTube;

automatically generate subtitles off what casters are saying with tools like Voice-to-Text;

and many more!

Types of surveillance used at cybersports events

To capture the excitement and ensure the integrity of esports events, a variety of camera systems are deployed. Here’s a breakdown of the different types and their roles:

1. Player cams: connecting with the audience
Many esports tournaments now feature broadcast-integrated player cameras: webcams that broadcast the reactions and emotions of players whose screens are being shared during live streams. Seeing a player’s reactions and emotions creates a deeper connection with the audience. Initially intended for entertainment, these cameras are increasingly valuable for potential eye-tracking analysis in case of cheating suspicions. Moreover, Riot Games introduced comprehensive multi-angle camera systems for their League of Legends championships, monitoring player hand movements, peripherals, screens, and the communication (“comms”) area. This allows for a VAR-style review system (similar to what’s used in soccer), where officials can analyze incidents in detail.

2. Standard security cameras: ensuring safety and security
Apart from anti-cheating measures, cybersports video monitoring plays a vital role in standard security protocols. This includes monitoring stadiums, surrounding areas, food courts, and other public spaces. Depending on the location, various types of CCTV cameras are employed, from overhead dome cameras providing wide-angle no-blind-spot views to robust weather-resistant bullet cameras designed for outdoor environments. These systems serve as crucial digital forensics tools and provide live views for security personnel.

3. Utility cameras: capturing the atmosphere
Esports is a visually engaging form of entertainment, and cameras are essential for capturing the excitement. Beyond security and integrity matters, these cameras record important moments, player interactions in practice rooms or outside the arena, and audience reactions in fan zones. PTZ cameras with automated guard tours help cover large areas, while for open-air venues, security drones are increasingly used to provide aerial views and expanded coverage.

Cybersports video monitoring: emotions

4. AI cameras: automation and efficiency
Modern cybersports video monitoring goes far beyond simply recording footage. AI-powered cameras are transforming the way organizers proceed with routine operations, enabling tasks like biometric access control, automated ticket scanning, fire hazard detection, health protocol compliance (e.g., mask wearing), and more. Thermal cameras offer night vision capabilities, enhancing security in low-light conditions.

“Security cameras are part of the infrastructure—like LAN cables or power strips. You don’t see them, but without them, the whole thing risks falling apart.”

John Fazio,
CEO of Nerd Street Gamers in his 2020 TechCrunch Interview

In conclusion:

Esports is set to become a truly global spectacle, rivaling the viewership of established sports like hockey, soccer, or basketball. If you still question its legitimacy, consider that over 100 countries now have formal esports federations or government-backed initiatives. The recognition of esports as a medal event in regional tournaments, such as the Asian Games, only confirms its place on the world stage.

Beyond counter-striking the standard security concerns characteristic of any public gathering, video surveillance in esports offers additional benefits in ensuring integrity and fair play in competitive gaming. Following scandals like the 2018 CS:GO spectator mode bug exploits and the 2023 Valorant aim-hacking allegations, tournament host teams have increasingly embraced video surveillance, and the trend appears set to remain.

It’s game over for doubt – video surveillance in esports is here to stay.

Video surveillance in esports

P.S. An Esports event demands a robust and reliable video surveillance system. Xeoma video surveillance software is the perfect choice for high-quality cybersports video monitoring, as it is built on 20 years of experience in software development and video surveillance. The result? Smart and adaptable solution that understands the unique needs of the esports industry and delivers unprecedented performance and flexibility.

With Xeoma, you are getting:

– over 100 features, over 30 video analytics tools;
– support for all types of cameras, 99% of cameras in the world;
– support for the most popular operating systems and free mobile apps;
– free customer care;
– rapid development, with user requests accepted;
– flexibility in configuration;
– various embedded streamlining practices;
and many more!

Have other ideas about how video surveillance can be used on major cycling events? Share them in Xeoma’s Reddit community

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July 30, 2025