Riot Games to Allow Gambling Sponsorships in Esports Starting 2025

Riot Games has announced that partnered teams in the LEC, LTA, and VCT Americas and EMEA will be allowed to sign sponsorship deals with licensed betting companies starting in 2025.

The change marks a significant shift in Riot’s long-standing policy of restricting gambling-related partnerships. However, the company has emphasized that strict limitations will still be in place.

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"We believe that showing up in this space responsibly is better than letting others define it for us" Riot Games on Opening Gambling Sponsorships

Credit: Riot Games

The change applies exclusively to teams in the LEC, LCS, and VCT Americas/EMEA. Regions such as China and parts of the APAC region, where gambling laws are stricter or outright banned, are not included in this update.

Some organizations have already stated they will not pursue betting sponsors, including Movistar KOI, which reaffirmed their stance shortly after the announcement.

The decision has sparked mixed reactions across the community.

"Sports betting – and more specifically, esports betting – is a space that more fans choose to engage with every year. According to Sportradar, the total betting turnover globally involving just LoL Esports and VCT reached $10.7 billion in 2024. But here’s the problem: 70% of bets across all sports are placed in unregulated markets with bookmakers who aren’t licensed." - Riot Games

While some welcome the move as a financial lifeline for esports organizations struggling to stay afloat, others remain wary of the long-term implications for a scene still heavily supported by younger viewers.

This update follows similar trends seen in traditional sports and may open the door for larger sponsorship deals across Riot's global ecosystem, though not without scrutiny.