Riot Games will allow betting sponsorships for its partnered esports teams in League of Legends (LoL) and Valorant starting in 2025, according to a report.
In a move that is likely to shake up the esports sponsorship landscape, Riot Games has announced that it will allow betting sponsorships for its partnered esports teams in League of Legends and Valorant starting in 2025. This decision comes after years of resistance from Riot, which has traditionally been hesitant to embrace gambling sponsorships.
The new rules will allow betting brands to sponsor teams through traditional means such as jersey sponsorships and content creation deals, as reported by Esports Insider. However, betting brands will still not be allowed to advertise on official Riot broadcasts or at esports events.
Esports personality Montecristo earlier confirmed this, noting however that these sponsorships will be subject to Riot's approval and will not be allowed to include logos on team uniforms.
Some teams, such as Movistar KOI, have already stated that they will not pursue betting sponsorships. Others are more open to the idea, but are waiting to see the details of the new rules before making a decision.
Despite the potential financial benefits of betting sponsorships, there remains some hesitation on the part of both esports organizations and gambling companies. Here are a few reasons why:
Concerns about match fixing: There is a concern that betting sponsorships could lead to match fixing, where players or teams intentionally lose or throw games in order to make money from bets. This could damage the integrity of esports competitions.
Age restrictions: Esports has a large young audience, and gambling is typically restricted to adults. Esports organizations may be concerned about the potential negative impact of gambling on young people.
Regulatory uncertainty: The esports betting industry is still relatively new and evolving, and there is still some uncertainty about the regulatory landscape. This could make esports organizations hesitant to partner with betting companies.
(Want to learn how to bet in Esports? Read the ACN Guide to Esports Betting)
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