By Justin M. Jacobson 28 July 2026 11 min read
The expansion of the competitive video gaming industry has provided talented gamers with the chance to sign lucrative agreements with professional esports teams and brand sponsors. These opportunities include those available for “minors” prior to them reaching the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction. While these chances can be exciting for a gaming talent, it is important that minors and their legal guardians are aware of the potential enforceability of the contract during the talent’s age of minority, the legal obligations related to a minor receiving funds, and the impact an agreement may have on the minor’s other non-gaming activities such as school. Additionally, like other entertainment and media industries involving younger participants, some states have enacted specific legislation related to contracting with minors, including those laws requiring Court approval of a service agreement or ones that mandate the formation of a “trust” bank account to hold the earned funds on the minor’s behalf. While there are many different legal considerations related to contracting with “minors,” this article focuses on five legal tips for minors and their legal guardians to consider when entering an agreement on behalf of a minor professional gamer.
One important legal consideration for a minor signing a contract is ensuring that the proper parent or legal guardian is involved in the negotiation and execution of the document. It is prudent to ensure that a legal guardian participates in and ultimately signs any applicable agreement on behalf of a minor gaming talent. Specifically, individuals who have not achieved the legal age of “majority” generally do not have the same legal capacity as adults to enter binding contracts. In fact, when a party contracts with a “minor,” they will often require a parent or guardian to sign the agreement or otherwise provide written consent to the deal. This parental involvement is intended to help all parties understand the agreement and the legal considerations associated with contracting with the minor.
However, it is important not to treat parental written “consent” as a mere formality or as a complete solution to every enforceability issue. In fact, some jurisdictions hold that contracts entered by minors may be voidable at the minor’s election during their minority or for a reasonable period after reaching the age of majority for non “ necessaries .” As a result, a legally appointed guardian’s signature may help create obligations for the legal guardian and such duties may discourage later disaffirmance by the minor. Accordingly, the parties should confirm who possesses the legal authority to sign on behalf of the minor and whether the consent of one or both parents or legal guardians is required. This consideration is especially important if any child custody arrangement impacts the approval of an agreement on the minor’s behalf. Similarly, proper discussion with a minor’s legal guardian is especially important in cases where the agreement involves the minor traveling out of their home state or out of the country, the gamer’s relocation to another city or country for housing or training on behalf of a team, as well as issues related to the public commercial use of the minor’s “name, image, or likeness” (NIL).
Moreover, some states have enacted statutory mechanisms and legal obligations related to receiving court “approval” of certain entertainment…