Payment Woes and Event Delay: Esports Scotland Faces Criticism Over SEL 5

The event of the Scottish Esports League SEL 6 has been rescheduled to 2024, which has caused frustration among participants who are still awaiting payment from Esports Scotland for last year’s SEL 5 event. SEL 5 took place at Dundee and Angus College’s Gardyne Theatre in November 2022. It had a prize pool of GBP15,000, sponsored by Irn Bru and others. It featured finals in esports games like League of Legends, CSGO, Rocket League, Valorant and Guilty Gear Strive. Unfortunately, the payments for everyone involved in the event have not been made yet.

Contractors associated with the event are reportedly considering taking action against Esports Scotland to receive their owed payments. 

The main problem can be traced back to delayed payments that occurred in SEL 4 of 2021, where it took three to four months for payments to be made due to less than anticipated grant funding. In response, Esports Scotland planned to switch their payment system for 2022 by relying on sponsorship revenue. Originally, SEL 5 was meant to focus more on community cups and battlegrounds than a physical event. However, unexpected challenges such as sponsor cancellations and pressure from stakeholders ultimately led them to proceed with SEL 5 in November 2022.

It has been reported that the funds from Irn Brus headline sponsorship for SEL 5 was used to cover deficits from community cups and battlegrounds. Despite efforts made by Esports Scotland to raise funds and establish partnerships with entities like Deep Green, ScotCreate and the Scottish Hockey esports initiative, they still face difficulties.

Esports Scotland’s decision to transition from a volunteer-based operation to having paid staff, talent and contractors has added more strain to their finances. The prize pools have also increased over time – from GBP 3,000 for SEL 3 jumping significantly to GBP 11,000 for SEL 4 and finally reaching GBP 15,000 for SEL 5.

Regarding the payment issue, Esports Scotland has been working diligently throughout the year to raise funds. They have explored revenue streams beyond just sponsorships, including investment opportunities as well as collaborations in education and B2B partnerships.

However, the organization has chosen to maintain a profile on social media and has not provided any assurances regarding the timeline for payments. As a result of the payments, the SEL 6 event for this year has been canceled, with the possibility of it taking place in 2024 dependent on resolving payment issues from SEL 5.

Several players who took part in SEL 5 expressed their frustration not only about the delayed payments but also about various issues related to the event itself. Their concerns revolve around a perceived lack of professionalism and technical difficulties.

Esports Scotland has recognized these discussions surrounding such incidents as part of their efforts to prevent similar situations from occurring again. Despite facing challenges, Esports Scotland has consistently made contributions to the esports community by establishing partnerships and organizing events that showcase Scotland’s esports talent.

In response to criticism, James Hood, founder and CEO of Esports Scotland, acknowledges that his organization is facing difficulties due to economic pressures. He emphasizes engagement with those affected and reiterates their commitment to fostering the growth of esports in Scotland.

Allan Hender, the leader of The British Counter Strike Association, highlights how crucial it is to uphold standards, maintain fair competition and ensure consistent tournaments for the long-term growth of esports projects.

Additionally, the Scottish Esports Network made a publication on social media addressing the controversy.

Via Esports News UK and UK CS:GO