Gambling Sponsorships By Riot: So, Riot Games just went ahead and changed their rules, they’re gonna allow gambling companies to sponsor professional teams in both League of Legends and Valorant. This is going to start happening from the 2025 competitive season, and a lot of people are talking about it already. It’s a pretty big deal considering Riot wasn’t okay with it before.
Gambling Sponsorships By Riot: They Change the Rules After Years
For many years, Riot didn’t allow gambling-related sponsors. They were strict because of concerns around younger audiences and keeping esports clean. But now, they said the market has changed, and there were lots of discussions with teams and other organizations. That’s why they finally updated the rules.
In their latest announcement from June 27, Riot said they’re going to allow these sponsorships, but with strict limits. The betting companies must follow the laws and regulations of the regions where they want to advertise.
Starting in 2025 Season
From next season, teams that play in the big tournaments like Worlds or Valorant Champions Tour can now sign deals with gambling brands. These could be sportsbook or online casino-type sponsors, but not every viewer will be seeing the ads.
Depending on the country, some viewers may not get the same sponsor logos during matches. Some governments have rules against it. But in the broadcasts where it’s allowed, teams can wear jerseys with gambling logos, and show them on banners or online content. Riot said there’s still going to be limits on what these sponsors can do; they won’t be affecting match outcomes or having contact with players.
Reactions From the Community
The esports scene is feeling very divided about all this. Some teams are happy, they say it’s going to help bring in money, especially in regions like Latin America or Europe where betting ads are normal already. It’s tough running esports teams right now, so this may help with that.
But not everybody likes the decision. Many fans and experts are worried about gambling being shown to young people. And others feel it could damage esports’ image if it’s seen as just a way to make money. Riot said they’ll watch how things go and will make sure the ads are kept responsible.
What’s Going to Happen Next?
With this move, Riot is kind of joining the crowd; other organizers like ESL already did this earlier. Whether this brings more support for teams or causes new problems, we’ll see once the 2025 season gets going. People will definitely be keeping an eye on it.
