Riot Games Opens Betting Sponsorships in League of Legends and VALORANT Esports
Riot Games has officially announced that it now allows betting sponsorships for its most prominent esports titles, such as League of Legends and VALORANT, within North America and EMEA regions. This policy marks a significant shift in the developer’s prior restrictions. The new changes help to maintain a competitive ecosystem that can sustain itself over a long time. The decision falls in line with Riot’s approach to responsibly interact with the rapidly growing betting market while safeguarding its community and the integrity of esports. This is especially evident given that the global betting turnover for these titles reached $10.7 billion in 2024.
Promoting Sustainable Esports Ecosystem
As per Riot Games, this policy change is intended to help the financial infrastructure of the esports ecosystem. It is mainly for the particularly at the Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels, which often face financial constraints. As Riot points out, approximately 70% of all esports betting takes place in unregulated markets. By integrating regulated betting sponsors into its structure, Riot hopes to eliminate these issues.
Still, Riot has set some restrictions on which sponsors may be used. All betting sponsorships are subject to Riot’s approval and must comply with official GRID esports data standards. Teams need to adopt internal integrity programmes focusing on competitive integrity and safeguarding the interests of the fans.
Most importantly, Riot will spend its sponsorship part of revenue to improve the Tier 2 ecosystem by higher prize funding and better training for organisers and aspiring professionals.
Read Also: Riot Responds to the Match-Fixing Allegations in VALORANT NA Tier 2
Responsible Integration with Strict Guidelines
Riot has set firm boundaries to sustain brand loyalty and user safety. Betting companies are prohibited from advertising on Riot’s official broadcast channel, as well as displaying their logos on team merchandise. Teams are restricted to promoting betting partners for their betting partners only through limited, pre-approved digital sponsorships.
As described by Riot’s leadership, including President of Publishing and Esports John Needham, the decision was made to actively deal with betting platforms “thoughtfully, carefully, and with the right protections.” He underscored that there is a long-term commitment on Riot’s part to engage in esports, including attempting to shape industry practices with responsible betting frameworks rather than wishing away a rapidly changing landscape.
Riot Games seeks to sign regulated betting partnerships while safeguarding competitive integrity and prioritising safety. While doing this, the company also signals its desire to build a more resilient and financially sustainable esports ecosystem.
