How DDoS Attacks Threaten the Reputation and Growth of Esports

In esports, every second counts. That’s why DDoS attacks are considered one of the most serious and dangerous threats to the industry. Connection issues, unexpected lags, and other disruptions can cost teams millions. Today, we’re taking a closer look at how DDoS attacks affect esports — and why hackers launch them in the first place.

The first known DDoS attacks can be traced back to around the year 2000, when online gaming was just beginning to gain popularity. Back then, hackers had simple motives: disrupt gameplay or ruin the experience for others. Often, the attackers were players themselves. For them, DDoS attacks became a tool for personal retaliation after losses or in-game conflicts. The most popular games at the time — World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike, and RuneScape — were frequent targets.

A decade later, the attacks became more widespread. The focus shifted from individual games to entire gaming companies. Malicious actors began overwhelming game servers, causing large-scale outages. League of Legends, Dota 2, and Minecraft were hit especially hard, suffering not only financial losses but also damage to their reputations.

It’s worth noting that not only multiplayer games have been affected — single-player titles have also fallen victim, as many now require a constant server connection. This applies to everything from MMA-themed games to major RPGs.

The iGaming industry was no exception. Online casinos reacted quickly to the growing threat and began implementing all available technical measures to defend against attacks. The same goes for providers of popular gambling titles, including crash games like Aviator and Lucky Jet. We reached out to experts at www.lucky-jet-game.com.in, a portal that publishes information on online casinos featuring Lucky Jet and other popular games. According to them, top-tier providers take their reputation seriously and use every available technology to reduce the risk of damage from DDoS attacks. This is critical, as such games require a continuous server connection — otherwise, all progress can be lost.

Since 2015, major esports championships have increasingly become targets of cyberattacks. Large tournaments — including those for Hearthstone, Dota 2, and CS — have suffered DDoS incidents. For example, during The International Dota 2 championship in 2015, the event had to be delayed for several hours while organizers dealt with the aftermath of an attack.

In recent years, attacks have become more strategic and destructive, targeting top-tier esports events. Hackers often strike during live broadcasts of high-stakes matches where teams compete for large cash prizes. Sometimes, these attacks are carried out for publicity, with hackers announcing their plans in advance.

One of the clearest motivations for hackers is the desire to influence match outcomes. If they can cause a specific team to win or lose, they may gain some form of benefit. For instance, consider any major League of Legends tournament. Rules often state that if players are disconnected for more than 10 minutes, their team may be automatically disqualified. A successful DDoS attack could knock a team out of the competition.

There have even been cases where players themselves launched attacks to secure a win. In 2017, a gamer known as 5PLUS50K12 won a championship in RuneScape and received a $20,000 prize. However, he was later disqualified after opponents accused him of cheating. A similar situation involved a player named Ecstasy, who admitted to using attacks to win a Dota 2 tournament. As a result, he was banned from participating in esports events for two years.

The number of DDoS attacks in esports continues to grow, making the industry increasingly vulnerable. That’s why securing the integrity of competitive gameplay is essential. Unfortunately, this is a complex challenge — and attacks persist, leaving esports to bear the consequences.