League of Legends and Valorant developer Riot Games is set to permit its partnered eSports teams to display gambling sponsors starting in 2025. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

The move is a major shift away from Riot Games’ previous stance on gambling; the company previously opposed any involvement of betting sponsorship with any of its competitions or partnered teams.

From 2025, that will now change, although betting sponsors will still be prohibited from displaying any material during Riot’s own broadcasts of eSports events.

As a result, while teams will be allowed to partner with betting companies, they will not be able to display any of their logos on team clothing during events.

all sports books partnering with teams will need to meet local regulatory and licensing requirements”

In addition, any betting sponsors will be required to meet certain requirements, with Riot Games stating: “All sports books partnering with teams will need to meet local regulatory and licensing requirements and match Riot requirements around content and promotion for this category.”

Whalen Rozelle, Riot Games’ COO of Esports, said that the partnered teams were informed of the change of policy a few weeks ago. Rozelle stated that “the decision was not made lightly” and “is a result of careful planning and study to settle on a move that will unlock new revenue opportunities for teams.”

The groundwork for the policy shift had already been laid last year, when the minimum age for team players was increased from 17 to 18, to permit teams to explore additional revenue-raising opportunities.