High-Tech Hacks and Match-Fixing: Esports Going Through Biggest Cheating Crisis So Far

Esports have become a worldwide phenomenon. Competitions in video games increasingly fill arenas, draw millions of online spectators, and get a lot of money from sponsors and media firms. Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, and League of Legends aren’t only games; they are also professional sports with complicated competition frameworks and prize pools of millions of dollars. Cheating, on the other hand, is still a problem in the sector.

Esports is facing one of the most turbulent integrity crises in its short history, with new reports revealing a sharp rise in cheating scandals, high-tech hacks, and suspected match-fixing across several major titles. Industry regulators, publishers, and betting watchdogs are now under pressure to tighten oversight as competitive gaming becomes increasingly sophisticated — and increasingly vulnerable.

30% Rise in Detected Cheating: Warning Signs Are Now Impossible to Ignore

A new report from eSports integrity analysts revealed that detected cheating incidents rose by nearly 30% during 2025, affecting titles including Rainbow Six Siege X, Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, and several mobile eSports circuits.

While cheating has always existed on the fringes of online gaming, 2025 has marked a turning point. Publishers report a wave of hacks that are dramatically more advanced and harder to detect than traditional aimbots or wallhacks. The rise of eSports betting markets, the internationalisation of tournaments, and thousands of remote online qualifiers have made fraud harder to track — and more lucrative.

From Radar Cheats to DMA Exploits: Technology Behind Scandals

One of the most alarming developments this year is the spread of DMA-based radar hacks, a form of cheating that uses external hardware to bypass anti-cheat protections entirely. A recent case in Sweden, involving a semi-professional CS2 roster, exposed how these hacks allow players to see enemy positions without detection. Several betting markets later reported irregular wagering patterns on the match in question.

Even more concerning is a February 2025 academic paper that described a cutting-edge “Virtual Machine Introspection Cheat” (VIC). The method uses a hidden virtual machine to intercept game data from outside the operating system, meaning even modern anti-cheat software cannot detect it. Analysts warn the technique could spread quickly now that proof-of-concept research is public.

All of this highlights a pressing challenge: anti-cheat technology is increasingly lagging behind attacker innovation, creating an arms race that eSports regulators are struggling to win.

Match-Fixing Concerns Grow as eSports Betting Markets Expand Globally

Integrity investigators say the cheating spike is closely tied to match-fixing risks in emerging betting markets. As bookie sites expand coverage of Tier-2 and Tier-3 esports matches — particularly online qualifiers — some competitions with minimal oversight have become easy targets.

This year, several suspicious betting patterns were flagged in lower-tier events for Rainbow Six Siege X, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Crossfire. These cases didn’t always involve proven gameplay cheating; in many instances, teams were suspected of deliberately throwing matches for betting profit.

Regulators warn that the combination of anonymous online competitions, young athletes, and global betting liquidity creates a “perfect storm” for corruption.

Publishers Tighten Controls, But Full Solutions Remain Elusive

Major publishers, including Ubisoft, Valve, Riot Games, and Tencent, have responded by ramping up anti-cheat measures, expanding internal integrity units, and increasing collaboration with eSports betting watchdogs.

Yet experts warn that unless tournament organisers reduce the number of unmonitored online qualifiers, and betting companies restrict markets on low-tier matches, the crisis may continue.

Esports, once celebrated for its digital accessibility, may now be facing the consequences of being too open.