Riot Games to Introduce Betting Sponsorships in Esports Starting 2025
Riot Games, the developer behind esports titles like VALORANT and League of Legends (LoL), is making a notable policy change. Starting in 2025, teams working within Riot’s esports ecosystem will have the green light to partner with approved betting platforms, opening up new sponsorship opportunities.
Strict Conditions for Betting Partnerships
Whalen Rozelle, COO of Riot Games‘ esports division, detailed the policy in a recent Twitter post, explaining that the move comes after “careful study and planning to unlock new revenue opportunities for teams.” However, these sponsorships will be implemented under strict guidelines:
- Riot-Owned Channels to Remain Betting-Free: Betting brands will not be featured on Riot-controlled broadcasts, social media platforms, or team jerseys commissioned by the company.
- Comprehensive Vetting Process: Riot Games will screen all potential betting sponsors to ensure compliance with integrity, transparency, advertising standards, and local regulations.
Implications for Teams and Revenue Streams
This decision marks a departure from Riot’s previous stance, which explicitly prohibited betting sponsorships in its esports tournaments. According to Esports Insider, this change aligns with Riot’s broader strategy to enable teams to tap into new revenue streams while maintaining the integrity of its competitions.
Riot Games has already laid the groundwork for this transition. For instance, during the 2024 League of Legends EMEA Championship season, the company raised the minimum age requirement for professional team players from 17 to 18. This adjustment was part of Riot’s exploration of “additional revenue opportunities.”
“This is a new sponsorship category for our esports, and we’ll approach it thoughtfully. We’ll learn a lot along the way, and we’ll make changes if at any point this compromises the integrity of the sport or impacts the high-quality experience our fans have today”, Rozelle highlighted.
