While many individuals may not support gambling and betting sponsorships in Esports, these agreements are becoming increasingly popular each year. Riot Games titles were among the few that were not affected by these types of deals so far. However, it seems like things are about to change in 2025.
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Riot Games Will Permit Betting and Gambling Sponsorships in VALORANT and League of Legends
According to MonteCristo, a popular commentator in the Esports industry, Riot Games will make a huge shift. In 2025, the company will finally allow professional League of Legends and VALORANT teams to partner with different betting sponsors, a major shift from its current policies.
Even though many people and fans were surprised by this decision, others saw it coming. If we look at other major Esports titles like Dota 2 or CS2, we can see that betting sponsors play a key role in them. The companies that sponsor different teams and events bring a lot of money into the scene. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that Riot also took advantage of the ongoing trend.
Limitations of These Partnerships
Even though betting companies will be able to participate in the LoL and Valorant competitive scenes, there are different limitations. For starters, betting brands won’t be able to just sponsor whomever they want. Before that, they will need to ask Riot for approval.
Another limitation is related to the players’ jerseys. Despite the sponsorship deal, we won’t be able to see the logo on the shirt.
Some people may be surprised by Riot’s decisions to limit sponsorships, but we must remember the infamous FTX deal. Even though the company was reluctant to partner with different crypto exchanges, it eventually did so with FTX. Sadly, the latter turned out to be a scam, and Riot received serious backlash because of it.
The Reactions
It’s no surprise that Riot’s decision to allow betting and gambling sponsorships in VALORANT and LoL has spared a debate. A lot of people agree that this step is needed to ensure more funding. This is especially true following the rising costs of having an Esport team.
On the other hand, there are also many critics who are not fans of gambling sponsorships. Some of them believe that they are not worth it in the long run because of their potential impact on younger players. Furthermore, having betting sponsorships could increase the risk of match-fixing, a popular issue among other Esports.
Conclusion
There’s no arguing that Riot’s decision to allow betting and gambling sponsorships for League of Legends and VALORANT teams is controversial. One thing is certain – this decision will change the Esports scene.
Other game studios that have Esports titles may decide to follow Riot’s footsteps in the next couple of months. Considering the popularity of the sports betting scene, it’s no surprise that more and more companies want to be involved in Esports. After all, it is one of the most lucrative options for many online bettors.
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