Riot Opens Betting Sponsorships for Tier 1 LoL, VALORANT Teams in Americas, EMEA

Riot Opens Betting Sponsorships for Tier 1 LoL, VALORANT Teams in Americas, EMEA

Esports juggernaut Riot Games has officially greenlit betting sponsorships for Tier 1 League of Legends (LoL) and VALORANT teams in the Americas and EMEA, marking a major shift in its commercial policy as it seeks to balance team sustainability with competitive integrity.

The announcement was made by John Needham, Riot’s President of Esports and Publishing, who emphasized that the move comes after years of analysis and dialogue with partnered teams. With betting activity around esports already surging — reportedly hitting $10.7 billion in turnover for LoL Esports and the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) in 2024 alone — Riot is choosing to engage with the space directly, rather than leave it unchecked.

“We believe it’s better to engage in allowing betting sponsorships — thoughtfully, carefully, and with the right protections — than to sit on the sidelines while risks to fans and integrity go unchecked,” said Needham.

Guardrails and Integrity Measures in Place

Riot made it clear that the program will launch with strong restrictions. Only licensed and Riot-vetted betting companies will be allowed to partner with teams, and all such deals must adhere to Riot’s strict standards. Among the core requirements:

Mandatory vetting of all potential betting sponsors by Riot before engagement.
Integration with GRID, Riot’s exclusive esports data partner, to ensure consistent, clean, and regulated data across all betting offerings.
Internal Integrity Programs will be required for every team entering a betting partnership, covering policy development, monitoring, education, and player protection.

Importantly, Riot-owned broadcast and digital channels will remain betting-free, with no ads, segments, or logos from betting sponsors. Teams may activate partnerships via their own channels, as long as they comply with content platform terms of service and local regulations.

Investing Back into Tier 2 Esports

While betting partnerships will be limited to Tier 1 teams for now, Riot confirmed that a portion of the revenues from this initiative will be reinvested into Tier 2 ecosystems. These reinvestments include:

Expanded prize pools and new tournaments for aspiring pros.
Enhanced integrity systems and training for tournament operators.
Educational programs aimed at teams and players entering the scene.

The move addresses long-standing calls from partner teams for more sustainable revenue streams, especially as franchised leagues seek ways to remain financially viable.

Responsible Growth Over Flashy Gains

Riot’s leadership acknowledges that sports betting remains a polarizing topic, especially among younger audiences. The company insists that this step is less about commercialization and more about setting industry standards on its own terms.

“With any new endeavor, there will be challenges, and if we need to make adjustments, we will,” Needham added. “Our overall commitment is to do right by our players, teams, and fans — as well as the world-class esports experience we’ve built together.”