U posljednjih nekoliko godina fenomen elektroničkog sporta (e-sporta ili esporta) dobiva sve veći značaj. Pojam e-sport označava natjecanja koja se održavaju na platformi računalnih ili video igara. Platforma za natjecanje je računalna ili videoigra (program), a ne klasično sportsko borilište. Žanr igara, koje služe kao sportsko borilište, u pravilu uključuje strateške igre u stvarnom vremenu, pucačke igre iz prvog lica i sportske simulacije. Uz svladavanje tehnike računalne igre, igrači za uspjeh u natjecanju moraju imati različite motoričke (koordinacija pokreta, brzina reakcije) i kognitivne sposobnosti (prostorna orijentacija, pregled igre, razumijevanje igre, taktička orijentacija, koncentracija, predviđanje i kreativno razmišljanje). E-sport natjecanja postaju sve privlačnija igračima i klubovima (tzv. klanovima) zbog sve izdašnijih nagradnih fondova. Broj igrača, tzv. gamera u stalnom je porastu. Finala tih natjecanja održavaju se u dvoranama pred tisućama gledatelja. Tu je po svemu riječ o ozbiljnom gospodarskom pothvatu koji diljem svijeta svojim nositeljima donosi znatne prihode. E-sport je na Azijskim sportskim igrama 2017. godine predstavljen sportskoj javnosti koja prati „klasične“ sportove, a Međunarodni olimpijski odbor razmatra mogućnost kako taj oblik natjecanja ustanoviti kao olimpijski sport, te se pomno prati aktivnosti e-sport zajednice. Povodom takvog stava najviših sportskih institucija već se neko vrijeme raspravlja o mogućnosti priznanja e-sporta kao sporta. Posebice se raspravlja o pravnim pretpostavkama koje neko natjecanje i njegovi dionici moraju ispuniti kako bi krovna udruga, koja ih objedinjuje, stekla članstvo u nacionalnom olimpijskom savezu. Nije jednostavno dati jednoznačan odgovor na pitanje je li e-sport uopće sport, jer je tu riječ o ljudskoj natjecateljskoj aktivnosti koja pokazuje mnogo lica: pravno, ekonomsko, antropološko, sociološko. Ovim radom nastoji se dati doprinos razumijevanju pravne strukture e-sporta, uzimajući u obzir i pravnu arhitektoniku e-sporta i njegov regulatorni kontekst, te ukazati na neka pravna pitanja iz motrišta nositelja natjecateljske dimenzije tog kompleksnog gospodarskog pothvata. Razmatraju se razlozi za priznanje e-sporta kao sporta, te se upućuje na pravne učinke tog priznanja. Nadalje, daje se prikaz mogućih rješenja za uređenje pravnog statusa natjecateljskih ekipa u e-sportu. Raspravlja se o mogućnosti ustroja e-sport-klubova u obliku sportskih udruga ili sportskih društava kapitala. Pored toga, upućuje se na rizike, prednosti i nedostatke koje nosi izbor pravnog oblika te se daju preporuke za praksu. The paper proves that e-sports is primarily a serious economic venture dominated by publishers of video and computer games used as a platform for competition. E-sport has grown out of a subculture and has become an independent and self-sustaining ecosystem in which economically and market-powerful players participate. In e-sports, there is no organizational structure that would correspond to the organizational and hierarchical structure that exists in classic sports. The freedoms of the digital world allow e-athletes to compete without forming a pyramid structure with an umbrella sports federation at the helm. Publishers are often at the same time the organizers of these competitions and the competitors are organized in the so-called clans. By organizing competitions, the publishers popularize their product and thus increase their profit from the sale of games and other goods related to computer games. Along with them, sponsors, investors, the marketing sector, organizers of games of chance and spectators appear as stakeholders in the e-sports venture. Unlike “classic” sports in which there is no copyright protection in the sense that someone designed the sport and its rules, in e-sports a computer program (program code) is protected, which is the basis of a video game. The mentioned system is developing even without the “title” of sport, so the real question is what advantages and disadvantages the recognition of e-sport would bring to its key stakeholders. The advantages of e-sports recognition are its wider social acceptance, which also affects its popularity, better access to public funding, easier obtaining of visas and residence permits for e-sportsmen, greater legal security and faster global development through cooperation with other sports organizations. On the other hand, subjecting e-sports to the regime of sports law has its challenges because then the rules on doping, protection of minors and integrity of sports are applied to e-sports stakeholders. The Statute and other autonomous acts of the Croatian Olympic Committee are flexible enough for the national umbrella association for e-sports to become its member, but a key role in this process will be played by the International Olympic Committee, which sends signals that e-sports (at least through electronic sports simulations) is getting close of fulfilling the conditions required for any human activity to be recognized as sport. When e-sports are granted the status of a sport then its stakeholders shall become subjects of sports law. In connection with the legal structure of sports clubs in our country, it follows that e-sports clubs will be able to choose between two legal forms: sports associations and sports joint stock companies. Taking into account the current situation, it can be concluded that sports associations, as a rule, will be the first choice due to all its features described in this paper