Riot Games has announced that partnered League of Legends and Valorant esports teams will soon be able to start working with betting platforms. Starting next year, LoL Esports and VCT teams will be able to work with Riot-approved betting brands for “new revenue opportunities” – although there are some stipulations regarding what this all means for official Riot esports broadcasts.
Riot Games’ COO of Esports Whalen Rozelle made the announcement on Twitter/X, hoping to provide League of Legends and Valorant fans with “some context” around what this change means for the MOBA and FPS game‘s competitive spheres going forward. Rozelle confirms that Riot-owned channels will remain betting-free with no brands in broadcasts, on social media, or on jerseys.
“A few weeks ago, we told partnered LoL Esports and VCT teams in [the] Americas and EMEA that starting in 2025, they’ll be allowed to explore partnerships with Riot-approved betting platforms,” Rozelle explains. “This decision wasn’t made lightly – it’s the result of careful study and planning to settle on a move that will unlock new revenue opportunities for teams while also protecting competitive integrity and the overall fan experience.”
“Here are two important things to know: 1. Riot-owned channels will stay betting-free. No betting brands will appear on our broadcasts, socials, or jerseys. 2. Riot will vet all potential betting partners to meet our standards for integrity, transparency, and fan engagement. All sportsbooks partnering with teams will need to meet local regulatory and licensing requirements and match Riot requirements around content and promotion for this category.
“This is a new sponsorship category for our esports, and we’ll approach it thoughtfully,” he continues. “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. Depending on how this initial implementation goes, we’ll evaluate opportunities to expand – or refine – our approach in the future.”
Rozelle’s statement isn’t the first we’ve heard of Riot Esports embracing betting partnerships, however. In 2023 Riot told The Esports Advocate in a statement that there had been “no change in the current policy regarding approved team sponsor categories.” That said, Riot did add that it “will continue to evaluate all opportunities that deliver safe, secure, and meaningful experiences that best support the growth of our esports ecosystem globally.”
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