The NZESF, a Government-recognised national sporting organisation and a member of the South Korea-based International Esports Federation, plans to work with ESIC to integrate its integrity programme into its operations and all of its sanctioned events.

One of the national body’s key areas of focus, aside from the regulation and governance of esports in New Zealand, is creating a pathway for young esports players to progress to higher levels of competition.

"Part of our mandate as an NSO is to monitor and enforce the integrity of events sanctioned by us," NZESF President Ben Lenihan said.

"This is becoming increasingly relevant as gambling becomes a bigger part of the world of esports.

"We have engaged with ESIC in order to be able to supply sanctioned tournament operators with world-class monitoring and investigation services."

The ESIC is a non-profit members' association established in 2015 to promote and facilitate competitive integrity in esports.

The Commission, which has offices in the United Kingdom and Australia, works to investigate and prevent all forms of cheating or match fixing.

"ESIC acknowledges the NZESF’s commitment and dedication to a uniform and global standard for competitive integrity in esports," ESIC commissioner Ian Smith said.

"As a member of ESIC, the NZESF will be able to engage with us on issues that are centrally related to youth protection and competitive integrity.

"Furthermore, the NZESF’s members will enjoy the benefit of a global network of information relating to the maintenance of competitive integrity in events."