• Riot Games is adding gambling operators to the list of available partners
• The company is determined to guide and protect its brands
• Esports betting is already a well-developed ecosystem, but it needs further steering

Riot Games has produced some of the world’s most impactful games, from Valorant to League of Legends. Other than being great fun, these two games have become true sports – or esports, as the term is known among fans – requiring significant skill, training, and not least, talent, to actually succeed.

Tier 1 teams in LoL and Valorant may now partner with gambling operators

Now, Riot Games has decided that teams in League of Legends and Valorant in the Americas and EMEA, and specifically those competing in tier one events, may partner with gambling operators, while ensuring that they enroll safeguards to protect their competitive integrity and the fan experience.

This is not a chance decision, as Riot Games has explained in a blog post. The esports betting ecosystem already exists, argues the publisher, and people are already engaging in esports wagering. Many teams have repeatedly asked for the publisher and game developer to change their stance and allow gambling partnerships in the end, which is finally being done.

The company argued that it took the time over the past years to carefully study and analyze what this could mean for the ecosystem that Riot Games is trying to build. One figure that is cited by Riot Games comes from Sportradar, a respected data and tech company in the betting sector.

According to Sportradar, 70% of all esports bettors are placed at an unlicensed website, which is why Riot Games wants to ensure that those who bet place their wagers at a trusted website instead. There are two significant goals that Riot Games wants to achieve early on – one is not to disrupt the viewing experience with an inundation of ads.

The other is to place very specific guardrails that are meant to protect consumers. The onus would be on the partners to ensure that they do not promote the wrong messages and that they stick to responsible gambling practices, with Riot Games to regulate gambling displays.

The ultimate goal is to protect everyone involved and develop esports

The company, said John Needham, President of Publishing & Esports at Riot Games, wants to proactively protect and guide its brands and ensure that bad actors are not taking advantage of the untapped market.

Not least, says Needham, teams will be able to benefit financially, which means that smaller teams may raise enough funds to compete and achieve better results.

Ultimately, says Riot Games, the commitment is to do right by everyone involved – from the players to the teams, to the fans.

Image credit: Riot Games