Riot Games Faces Backlash as Betting Sponsors Enter League of Legends and Valorant Esports
Big changes are coming to the world of League of Legends and Valorant esports, and fans are making their voices heard! Riot Games just announced a new set of rules that will allow betting sponsorships for top-tier teams in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. But not everyone is happy about it. Here’s what you need to know.
- Riot Games will allow esports betting sponsors for Tier 1 League of Legends and Valorant teams.
- The move is designed to generate new revenue for teams and Riot itself.
- Strict guidelines are promised, but many fans are concerned about integrity and gambling risks.
- Online reactions from the community are largely negative.
Riot says: “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”
On Thursday, Riot’s president of publishing and esports, John Needham, announced the new policy. From now on, teams in top leagues can sign sponsorship deals with betting companies. This applies to League of Legends and Valorant in major regions like the Americas and EMEA. For more details, you can check Riot’s official statement here.
Why is Riot opening the door to betting?
According to Needham, betting is already happening around esports, but most of it is in unregulated markets. He says, “70% of bets across all sports are placed in unregulated markets with bookmakers who aren’t licensed.” Riot believes it’s safer to allow betting sponsors with the right protections, rather than ignoring the issue.
Teams have been pushing for this move too. As Needham puts it, they want to “open up sponsorship opportunities with betting brands to generate additional revenue for their financial health.” Riot also benefits from the new revenue stream, but promises to reinvest some of that money back into its esports programs.
Guardrails and guidelines
Riot promises there will be strict rules in place. Only approved gambling companies can sponsor teams. Ads for gambling will be restricted on official channels, and no betting logos will appear on team jerseys. As Needham explains:
“The last thing we want to do is disrupt LoL Esports and VCT broadcasts with an influx of sports betting ads. So we’ve established at the onset that Riot-owned broadcast and social channels will stay betting-free, which means no ads, no sponsored segments from betting partners, and no betting partner logos on team jerseys. It will be up to each team to craft how sports betting related content shows up on their channels within the guidelines of the sponsorship program, content platform ToS, and local regulations.”
Teams are also required to create their own Internal Integrity Programs to protect players, young audiences, and maintain responsible betting practices. Riot openly admits that betting can sometimes lead to match fixing, irresponsible gambling, and other risks.
Not everyone’s happy: fans react
The announcement has sparked a lot of debate online. On Reddit, the League of Legends community and Valorant fans have been vocal with their concerns. Many worry about increased toxicity, match fixing, and especially gambling addiction among young viewers and players.
One League fan put it simply:
“I hate gambling and how pervasive it is.”
Another added:
“I don’t love it, seeing how online sports betting has quickly become endemic among young men, but it was inevitable at this point as the ecosystem really needs increased revenue and barring a direct buy-in price for viewership this is probably the most lucrative way to do so.”
What do the experts say?
The World Health Organization warns that gambling can threaten health, increase mental illness, and even drive poverty. A recent Lancet report says that globally, 5.5% of women and 11.9% of men experience harm from gambling. Other studies have linked gambling to increased suicide risk, as seen here.
Why now?
Since 2018, sports betting in the US (where Riot is based) has exploded, and many traditional sports leagues have embraced it. But this shift has also brought criticism. Some players report that legalized betting has negatively changed how fans treat them.
Meanwhile, esports sponsorship money is getting harder to find. That’s why some see betting as an “inevitable” step for Riot, even if it’s controversial. For more on the state of esports sponsorship, see this Bloomberg article.
Summary
Riot Games is making a big bet on the future of esports by opening the door to gambling sponsors. They promise plenty of safeguards, but many fans remain skeptical. Will this help keep the esports scene alive, or bring more problems than it solves? The debate is just getting started.
