Major League Gaming secures $11.3M for eSports

New York City-based organization Major League Gaming, which hosts tournaments and events for competitive games in North America, has raised $11.3 million in a new round of funding. This latest financing, which brings Major League Gaming's total amount raised to nearly $70 million, hints at continued and increasing interest in professional eSports, from both gamers and investors. The release of StarCraft II, renewed interest in fighting games, and emergence of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena/Defense of the Ancients (MOBA/DOTA) titles like League of Legends have helped fuel eSports' popularity in recent years. MLG has hosted gaming tournaments since 2002, touring various cities with its Pro Circuit events, where players compete in games like StarCraft II and Halo: Reach. It broadcasts those competitions live on its site, which receives around 8 million users each month. The company had its biggest year in 2011, as the number of unique visitors during its Pro Circuit Season increased by 225 percent over the previous year. 241,000 people tuned into its Providence National Championships event alone last November. MLG's latest funding is part of a $13 million targeted round of financing, according to an SEC filing submitted by the company on Monday.