Riot Games Allows Betting Sponsorships for Tier 1 Esports Teams

Riot Games has officially lifted its longstanding ban on gambling sponsorships for Tier 1 League of Legends and Valorant esports teams in the Americas and EMEA regions, responding to team requests for new revenue streams amid the growing esports betting market. Riot's President of Publishing and Esports, John Needham, emphasized that betting activity around these games already exists and will continue regardless of Riot's engagement, making it preferable to regulate and create protections rather than ignore the issue. The global esports betting market was valued at over $10 billion in 2024, with 70% of bets occurring in unregulated markets, prompting Riot to implement strict safeguards including vetting of all betting partners, mandatory use of official match data from Riot’s GRID platform, and team-led integrity programs to protect players and ensure fair play. Riot has also committed to keeping its official broadcasts free of betting advertisements, allowing teams to promote betting sponsors only through their own content within local regulations. This move marks a significant shift as Riot acknowledges the financial realities of esports and aims to foster a sustainable ecosystem by responsibly integrating licensed betting sponsors. These measures intend to mitigate risks to competitive integrity and consumer protection while diversifying esports team income in an increasingly competitive environment.