Professional gamer Cody Hart, 30, who lives in Cape May Court House in the offseason, plays in the official NBA2K league as a point guard for the Warriors. Some winners took home $200K, he said.
Hart sees people warming up to the idea of competitive video games.
“A lot of people look at it as a waste of time until they really understand how rewarding this field can be for somebody who excels in a competitive scene of any type of video,” Hart said. “E-sports is just growing at a rapid rate.”
Atlantic City has been positioning itself as a future hub of professional gaming. Tech companies are investing millions, including Continent 8, a firm building 6,000 square foot data center needed to handle gigantic tournaments. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is working on bringing competitions to either the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall or the Atlantic City Convention Center next year.
Bringing e-sports to a famed gaming-hub like Atlantic City adds a layer of legitimacy to the sport in the public’s eye.
