Gaming Events Reviewing Security Following Jacksonville Shooting

Gaming Events Reviewing Security Following Jacksonville Shooting

The fall out from the Jacksonville shooting includes lawsuits, event cancellations and increased security for future gaming conventions.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Aug 29, 2018

The shooting at The Landing in Jacksonville, Fla. is making waves in the gaming community, including lawsuits, cancelled events and increased security at events.

Just two days after the shooting that killed two people and injured nine more, a Florida firm has announced it plans to file a lawsuit alleging negligent security contributed the mass shooting. Morgan & Morgan attorneys said that Americans have the right to be safe when they attend events in public places and that business and even organizers have a duty under law to provide protection for patrons.

"Businness as usual will no longer be tolerated by Americans," Matt Morgan said. " It's time for business owners and event organizers to step up their game." 

In response to the shooting and its fallout, Electrionic Arts (EA) has cancelled the remaining three qualifying events for its Madden Classic esports tournament.

"We have made the decision to cancel our three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events while we run a comprehensive review of safety protocols for competitors and spectators," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a statement released on Monday night. "We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events."

EA isn't the only company looking to increase security at future events. Twitch, the video service that was streaming the Madden 19 competition during the shooting, is reviewing security plans for its October TwitchCon event.

The broadcast company has already posted security procedures to its TwitchCon website, including the notification that attendees would be scanned upon entry, all bags would be searched and uniformed police and uniformed security guards would be in attendance. After the shooting, however, the company released a statement saying those procedures are being reviewed for potential tightening.

"Security at TwitchCon is our top priority and is something we take very seriously at all our events," the company said in a statement. "We regularly review and iterate on our policies ad approach in order to provide a safe and positive experience for staff, attendees, and exhibitors. In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, we will be re-reviewing our plans and updating them accordingly."

The esports industry has been estimated to be worth nearly $1 billion. With events, competitive tournaments and conventions adding to a large percentage of the industry's revenue. Calls for security have now been heard loud and clear. 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.