ESIC Launches Certified Talent Agents Program for Esports

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) unveiled an accreditation system Wednesday designed to bring professional standards to talent representation in the fast-growing but largely unregulated esports industry.

The commission's Certified Talent Agents Program establishes formal licensing requirements for individuals and organizations representing professional gamers, content creators and teams. The initiative marks the latest effort by ESIC to extend oversight beyond competitive integrity into the business practices surrounding esports.

The program comes as player representation has become increasingly lucrative but remains plagued by contract disputes, opaque payment structures and conflicts of interest. Sponsorships, streaming deals and cross-platform branding opportunities have multiplied faster than the regulatory frameworks governing them.

"Representation in esports has matured faster than its regulation," said Stephen Hanna, ESIC's chief executive. "Our certification program gives both talent and organizations a measure of trust and recourse that has been missing."

How the Esports Agent Certification Program Works

To earn certification, agents and agencies must pass financial and legal screenings including criminal background checks, proof of insurance and reviews of past contract violations. Certified agents will be listed on a public registry on the commission's website, allowing players, teams and sponsors to verify credentials.

The program also introduces a dispute-resolution mechanism with ESIC serving as mediator between agents and clients. Thirteen agents from SEG Esports and Prodigy Agency completed certification during a pilot phase. Major agencies including New Knacks Agency, which collectively represent hundreds of professional players across games like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2 and Fortnite, are among the initial participants.

ESIC developed the framework after consulting with 15 agencies globally to identify industry pain points. The move mirrors credentialing systems in traditional sports, where agents typically must meet licensing and compliance requirements.

The commission has steadily expanded its mandate beyond tournament oversight. Earlier this year, it partnered with ggCircuit to launch a separate certification program for LAN centers and tournament venues.

ESIC's stamp of approval could become a competitive differentiator for agencies and a safeguard for companies concerned about reputational risk in an industry still building institutional legitimacy.