Riot Games believes that "building the future of esports means investing in a sustainable ecosystem, not just for today, but for the long run," Riot's president of publishing and esports John Needham said today, and that's why the studio has decided to open the door to "betting sponsorship opportunities" for Tier 1 League of Legends and Valorant teams in the US and EMEA.
"We know sports betting isn’t for everyone, and that some fans have strong feelings about it, and we respect that," Needham wrote in today's announcement. "However, the reality is that betting activity already exists around our sports and will continue whether we engage with it or not.
