CS:GO match-fixing scandal could land five people in prison for up to ten years

Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson has told ABC News, that as much as AUD30,000 had been won from the fixed ESEA MDL games.

The Victoria Police’s investigation started back in March 2019 when a betting agency contacted the authorities. Initially, six arrests were made in August 2019 but only five men have been charged on Sunday.

(Picture: Valve)

To face the charge, four defendants will appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on September 15, with the other defendant appearing at Sale Magistrates’ Court on the same date.

The CS:GO landscape is no stranger to match-fixing scandals. iBUYPOWER lost a CEVO game on purpose in 2014 and four players were banned from Valve Majors in 2015. 

• Read more: CS:GO pro Swag announces switch to Project A

The iBUYPOWER scandal didn’t turn into a legal matter but the Australian men in question haven’t been as lucky, as they face up to ten years in prison if convicted.

The official charges, made public by the Victoria Police, can be found below:

• A 20-year-old Mill Park man has been charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency (section 195C Crimes Act 1958) x2, use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (section 195F Crimes Act 1958) x2, and possess cannabis;

• A 20-year-old South Morang man has been charged with use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (section 195F Crimes Act 1958) x3;

• A 20-year-old Mill Park man has been charged with use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (section 195F Crimes Act 1958) x3;

• A 20-year-old Mill Park man has been charged with use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (section 195F Crimes Act 1958) x3; and

• A 27-year-old Sale man has been charged with use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (section 195F Crimes Act 1958) x5.