Riot Games Goes All In: Betting Sponsorships Now Open to Tier 1 Esports Teams

The esports world just got hit with a bold power play. Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends and VALORANT, is officially greenlighting betting sponsorships for Tier 1 teams in the Americas and EMEA regions. Announced on June 26, 2025, by Riot’s President of Publishing & Esports, John Needham, this move could redefine the financial landscape of competitive gaming.

Let’s break it all down, what it means, why they did it, and where things could go from here.

Why the Big Shift?

In simple terms: money talks.

The global esports betting market was valued at $10.7 billion in 2024, with a staggering 70% of that action happening in unregulated spaces, according to data from Sportradar. With rising costs in running top-tier esports organizations and many teams asking Riot for more ways to keep their orgs afloat, this change was bound to happen.

Previously, Riot had been cautious, even skeptical about letting gambling enter its ecosystem due to ethical concerns. But this new move shows a shift toward financial realism. Riot is now acknowledging that betting isn’t going away, so why not regulate it and make it safer?

 

 

What's Actually Allowed?

The doors are open for Tier 1 teams to start working with licensed betting sponsors, but it’s not a total free-for-all. Riot is putting strict guardrails in place to avoid scandals or shady dealings:

• All partners must be vetted
• Only official match data (from Riot’s GRID 2023 partnership) can be used
• Teams must stick to integrity programs, protecting players and ensuring fair play

 

And here's the kicker: Riot’s own broadcasts will stay betting-ad free. So if you're watching the official stream, don't expect to see gambling logos plastered all over the screen. Teams can still use their own content to promote their sponsors, as long as it’s within the rules of their region and platform.

Mixed Reactions Across the Community

Naturally, not everyone is thrilled.

Supporters are calling it a much-needed evolution, comparing it to traditional sports, where betting partnerships are the norm. After all, the money has to come from somewhere, and this could help stabilize the competitive scene.

Critics, though, are raising eyebrows. On social media, especially on X, many fans are calling out the irony of Riot’s clean language policies in-game while now embracing gambling money. There's real concern about young audiences being exposed to betting promotions.

According to the Knowledge Mobilization for Gambling and Gaming in Youth (GGTU), problem gambling among 10-24-year-olds is already high, and marketing through gaming content doesn’t help.

What Riot’s Doing for the Little Guys

In what seems like an effort to balance the scales, Riot has pledged to reinvest part of the betting revenue into the Tier 2 ecosystem. That means:

• Bigger prize pools
• Education and development programs
• Support for up-and-coming teams

 

It’s a clear signal that Riot isn’t just doing this for the top dogs, they’re trying to make it work across the board. This strategy is similar to what we’ve seen in CS:GO, where tournaments like BLAST Premier partner with major betting brands like Betway.

Is This the Future of Esports?

Riot’s decision is a high-stakes gamble but it might just pay off. They’re trying to walk the tightrope between economic sustainability and ethical responsibility. If they can regulate it properly and maintain fan trust, this could set the gold standard for how esports handles betting in the years ahead.

Still, the move is likely to be monitored very closely. Whether it creates a better-funded scene or opens the door to more controversy will depend on how the community, players, sponsors, and Riot itself adapt to the changes.