Riot Games Opens Betting Sponsorships for LoL and Valorant Teams
Riot Games has lifted its long-standing ban on sports betting sponsorships for Tier 1 League of Legends Esports and Valorant Champions Tour teams in the EMEA and Americas regions. The policy shift, announced by Riot's President of Publishing and Esports, John Needham, introduces strict vetting processes and integrity safeguards to mitigate risks in the rapidly expanding esports betting sector. This move addresses team demands for diversified revenue streams while channeling a portion of proceeds back into lower-tier competitions, potentially stabilizing the global esports economy amid betting turnover exceeding $10.7 billion on Riot titles in 2024.