In South Korea, a ban on boosting other people’s game characters has come into force. For violating the ban, gamers face either a fine of $ 18 thousand, or up to two years in prison.
Recall that boosting is a common way of earning money in Dota 2, Overwatch and other competitive titles. Booster players are asked to upgrade their character and quickly raise the rating. Their customers, as a rule, are less skilled gamers who are not able to rise high in the standings.
The South Korean government believes that boosters upset the balance in the esports ecosystem. It also opposes the existence of dealer gaming companies that offer booster services. The authorities attributed their activities to the shadow sector of the economy, GameReactor reports, citing Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad.
So, in December last year, an amendment was made to the Law on the Promotion of the Gaming Industry on the criminal prosecution of boosters. Then it was assumed that the prison term could be suspended. Now, six months later, the amended law has entered into force.
Note that the probability of punishment for boosters in South Korea depends on whether the creators of the competitive game will allow pumping other people’s accounts.
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