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

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • 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.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.