Riot Games, developer of online battle arena games League of Legends and Valorant, formally ventured into sports betting sponsorships for its Tier 1 esports events.
The plan follows years of working on integration while maintaining integrity.
Key takeaways
- Riot Games will permit regulated betting sponsors for Tier 1 League and Valorant esports teams.
- Teams must follow strict guidelines to prevent integrity issues and underage exposure to gambling content.
- Pennsylvania lawmakers proposed legalizing esports wagering, expanding PGCB authority over non-traditional betting events.
The firm stated Thursday that clubs in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa may now freely accept offers from regulated betting companies. The policy is part of Riot's broader attempt to bring transparency and regulation to a practice that was already happening in unofficial ways.
Riot's president of publishing and esports, John Needham, stated bettors place 70% of all sports wagers in the world with unlicensed operators. Needham argued that by allowing betting sponsorships but under close controls, Riot can maintain integrity while taking a share of what otherwise goes to non-regulated markets.
Riot faces mounting criticism from fans
Despite introducing betting sponsors as a way to clamp down on unregulated wagering, many Valorant and League fans are critical of the new changes.
Many fans expressed concern this could fuel the rise of betting addiction. A World Health Organization study released in December 2024 revealed gambling could cause adverse effects, such as serious harm to a person’s mental health, which can lead to suicide.
On top of that, a report JAMA Internal Medicine released in February 2025 also found gambling addiction has been on the rise in the U.S. since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018.
Fans of the two games turned to the social media forum Reddit to share their opinions on the news, with many stating the consensus that gambling shouldn’t be advertised. One League fan wrote in the League of Legends subreddit, “I hate gambling and how pervasive it is,” while another said, “I don't love it, seeing how online sports betting has quickly become endemic among young men."
Pennsylvania bill aims to legalize eSports betting
While Riot Games develops its esports betting paradigm, Pennsylvania legislators also want to put esports betting into the regulated sports wagering realm.
Rep. Ed Neilson introduced House Bill 1636 (HB 1636), letting Pennsylvania's legal sportsbooks accept esports wagers. The bill is Neilson's second try to legalize the practice following a failed 2023 attempt.
The proposal broadly defines esports as contests between teams or individuals of skill-based video games. More importantly, it isn't yet age-restricted, meaning events where players as young as 13 years old would be covered.
This exception would likely be controversial since Pennsylvania prohibits wagering on prop bets involving high school and college players.
