In a significant change of policy, Riot Games, the developer behind popular games like League of Legends and Valorant, has announced that it will allow its partnered eSports teams to display gambling sponsors starting in 2025. This marks a departure from Riot Games’ previous stance against gambling sponsorship in any form during its competitions or with its partnered teams.
While this new policy will allow teams to partner with betting companies, there are still restrictions in place. Betting sponsors will not be permitted to display any material during Riot’s own broadcasts of eSports events, and logos of these sponsors will not be allowed on team clothing during events.
Riot Games has also set specific requirements for betting sponsors, stating that all sports books partnering with teams must meet local regulatory and licensing requirements, as well as match Riot’s own requirements around content and promotion for this category.
Whalen Rozelle, Riot Games’ COO of Esports, explained that the decision to allow gambling sponsors was not taken lightly and was the result of careful planning and study. Rozelle emphasized that this move will open up new revenue opportunities for teams, which had been a key factor in the decision-making process.
The groundwork for this policy shift was laid last year when Riot Games increased the minimum age for team players from 17 to 18. This change was made to allow teams to explore additional revenue-raising opportunities, setting the stage for the introduction of gambling sponsors in the future.
Overall, this decision by Riot Games represents a significant shift in the company’s approach to gambling sponsorship in eSports. By allowing partnered teams to display betting sponsors, Riot Games is opening up new revenue streams and opportunities for growth within the eSports industry.