Riot Games has rolled out the 2025 edition of its Esports Global Code of Conduct, introducing provisions that explicitly support betting partnerships for League of Legends and VALORANT teams in non-US regions. The update emphasizes fair play, inclusivity, and stricter vetting for sponsors, ensuring all partners comply with local regulations in markets such as the EU, APAC, and Latin America. This follows the company's December 2024 confirmation that licensed sportsbooks could align with VCT and LEC teams, provided they meet Riot's content and promotion standards.
The changes matter for betting operators as they open doors to official integrations, such as enhanced odds feeds and co-branded promotions during events like Worlds 2025. However, Riot mandates transparency in betting-related disclosures to prevent conflicts, addressing concerns over integrity in high-stakes tournaments. Stakeholders in the UK and Germany, where esports wagering is tightly regulated by the Gambling Commission and GGL, respectively, stand to benefit from clearer guidelines, potentially boosting market liquidity without compromising competitive standards. This positions Riot as a leader in harmonizing esports growth with responsible betting ecosystems.
Source: Riot Games
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) issued a stark advisory on September 30, underscoring match-fixing as a "serious risk" to the global esports betting landscape, particularly in unregulated APAC and Latin American (LatAm) markets. Drawing parallels to traditional sports scandals, ESIC noted that the sector's rapid digitization—coupled with anonymous skin-betting and offshore wagers—exacerbates vulnerabilities. The body called for unified education, real-time betting monitoring, and partnerships with tournament organizers to impose sanctions, such as lifetime bans.
This development is critical for operators in Australia and Brazil, where esports viewership drives billions in handle but integrity breaches could erode trust. ESIC's data reveals a 15% increase in suspicious patterns since Q2 2025, often tied to long-tail bets on kills or rounds in titles such as Counter-Strike 2. By collaborating with bodies like Australia's Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit, ESIC aims to flag anomalies swiftly, protecting a market projected to hit $54 billion by 2034. For stakeholders, this reinforces the need for AI-driven tools to safeguard wagering integrity as the global audience continues to expand.
Source: European Gaming Industry News
Data intelligence firm GRID unveiled GRID Bet on September 17, a comprehensive trading and risk management platform tailored for esports betting operators in the EU. Integrated with existing tools like AI insights and live feeds, it enables real-time odds adjustment for titles such as League of Legends and Dota 2, with full rollout planned for October 2025. This move accompanies leadership changes, including the appointment of a new head of esports, to capitalize on Europe's 41% share of the global betting market.
For operators licensed under the UK's Gambling Commission or Germany's GGL, GRID Bet streamlines compliance with anti-manipulation protocols, reducing exposure to volatile in-play markets. The platform's debut addresses a 28% rise in live esports bets in Q3 2025, according to industry analytics, enabling firms to handle increased volumes from events such as the LEC Winter Split. This innovation not only enhances profitability through precise pricing but also supports integrity by flagging irregular patterns, fostering a more secure ecosystem for bettors across the region.
Source: Esports Insider
Swedish operator Betsson AB secured a federal gaming license from Brazil's Ministry of Finance on February 27, 2025—effective immediately—authorizing full i Gaming and sports betting operations, including esports verticals. This positions Betsson to tap into a nascent market that will be legalized in late 2024, where esports wagering on CBLOL and CS2 events is surging. The approval follows rigorous SIGAP compliance checks, emphasizing responsible gambling and tax remittances of 12% or more.
The license's implications extend to Latin America's broader expansion, with Brazil's population of over 200 million fueling a projected $3 billion esports betting segment by 2026. For international operators, it signals regulatory maturation, enabling partnerships with local organizers like XLG Esports. Betsson's entry, building on its Peruvian foothold, could standardize odds offerings and boost liquidity, though challenges like geo-fencing persist. This development underscores LatAm's shift from gray-market dominance to licensed growth, benefiting stakeholders focused on sustainable market entry.
Source: Esports Insider
Esports odds provider Oddin.gg partnered with iGaming platform InPlaySoft on September 11 to deploy turnkey betting infrastructure across Brazil and the wider Latin American region. The collaboration integrates Oddin.gg's low-latency feeds for over 50 titles, enabling operators to launch regulated esports markets compliant with Brazil's new framework. This comes amid a 20% quarterly uptick in regional handle, driven by mobile penetration exceeding 70%.
For tournament organizers and bookmakers in emerging hubs like Colombia and Mexico, the partnership facilitates innovative bet types, such as round-winners in Valorant, while embedding ESIC-aligned integrity checks. It addresses infrastructure gaps in a market where unlicensed platforms previously dominated, potentially increasing licensed GGR by 15-20%. As Latin American esports audiences reach 150 million, this tech infusion supports scalable growth, ensuring operators can meet demand from events like the Esports World Cup without compromising reliability.
Source: Esports Insider
