At its most basic, insurance helps protect us from life’s surprises. The range and variance within insurance policies are catered toward different industries in order to touch on the most likely risks—and the more interesting and niche the industry, the more intriguing those policies become.
For example, many are familiar with unique insurance policies for famous people. Musician Taylor Swift has had her legs insured for years, while NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes has had his curls insured after signing a major deal with Head n’ Shoulders. In other words, there’s no consideration too small for a full-coverage plan.
But what about the realm of gaming? Over the last decade, the gaming industry has taken off worldwide, creating new celebs in players like Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins and establishing competitive leagues like The Championship.
Unsurprisingly, the list of insurance policies related to gaming of all stripes has increased—and they’re becoming more niche and specialized. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting policies in the gaming industry in 2023.
Blackjack Insurance (Casino)
Casino gaming and insurance might sound like an interesting combination, but some online providers actually offer blackjack insurance in their virtual rooms. Well, sort of. Blackjack insurance offers a 2:1 payout in the event of the dealer hitting 21. Let’s explain.
The 2:1 payout is designed to protect players in case the dealer has a high probability of hitting blackjack. If the dealer’s up-card is an ace, then players can insure their hand before the next round is played. If the dealer hits blackjack, the player breaks even thanks to their insurance. If the dealer doesn’t hit blackjack, the amount insuring the bet is lost—but players still get to play out their original hand.
Cyber Liability (eSports)
Let’s shift toward the burgeoning industry of eSports. As mentioned above, the more widespread eSports become, the more varied the insurance policies attached. One component of many policies that is unique to eSports is cyber liability. This covers two different possibilities.
The first is that someone within a company mismanages private data and information. This could lead to a leak in information or some other breech of contract. The second way that cyber liability protects eSports companies and teams is by protecting against cyber-attacks. These attacks might be designed to steal information from a team or provide data that gives a competitor an upper hand.
Long-Term Disability (eSports)
Long-term disability is another factor on eSports insurance policies that some might be surprised to see. After all, given eSports pros are sat in front of a screen for long hours of practice and competition, there should be minimal risk of disability—right?
Esports is a young industry. The long-term health problems that come from being a cyber-athlete aren’t yet well-known. However, many long-term competitors end up suffering from carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, and trigger finger. Back in 2015, the very first eSports player officially retired due to a wrist injury. Since then, long-term disability policies have become more standard.
Hacker Insurance (Streaming)
Let’s jump from eSports to Twitch streaming. While eSports pros are the world’s most competitive players, Twitch streamers are by far the most entertaining. Oftentimes, they make even more money than eSports players thanks to lucrative sponsorships—but that doesn’t mean finding a solid insurance policy is easy.
Just like eSports companies, streamers are now leaning towards different types of Twitch-based insurance policies, such as Notch. Notch is designed to compensate players for a loss of income based on cyber-attacks and hacking efforts. Using a dual approach, Notch offers security details for streamers with a large following, along with crisis management support for those who have been hacked.
Healthcare Partners at Twitch (Streaming)
Let’s point out one more interesting factoid about insurance and gaming. As outlined above, Twitch is a massive platform that has helped launch the careers of millions of streamers. The giant recently outlined a healthcare plan for its streamers, known as Stride. This optional policy makes it easier for freelance streamers to register for healthcare, including a range of tiers geared toward streamers of all levels.
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