Global Esports Betting Tightens Integrity Framework

Key Takeaways

• ESIC bolsters anti-corruption efforts through new Tier 1 partnerships with operators such as Stake and BETER, enhancing monitoring of suspicious betting across key APAC and EU markets.
• Riot Games' 2025 Global Code of Conduct tightens accountability for match-fixing, extending liability to affiliates and clarifying fantasy esports rules to enhance broader integrity.
• VALORANT betting surges 175% year-over-year in H1 2025, driven by policy shifts permitting sponsorships, signaling explosive growth in APAC and EU ecosystems.
• The global esports betting market is projected to reach $4.8 billion in 2025, driven by sponsorships and regulatory adaptations in non-US regions.

ESIC Welcomes Stake as Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has integrated Stake, a prominent crypto gambling platform, as a Tier 1 anti-corruption partner to fortify global monitoring against match-fixing and betting irregularities. Announced on November 25, 2025, this collaboration leverages Stake's operational data to detect suspicious patterns in esports events, particularly in high-volume titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2. As a Tier 1 member, Stake contributes directly to ESIC's integrity network, aiding investigations into player gambling and corruption risks that could undermine competitive fairness.

This partnership is pivotal for the esports betting ecosystem, where unregulated wagering persists in regions like APAC and LatAm. By aligning with ESIC's Anti-Corruption Supporter program, Stake helps replace gray-market activity with transparent practices, ensuring accountability across tournaments. ESIC CEO Stephen Hanna emphasized, "Stake's insights contribute directly to our ability to identify and mitigate integrity threats." For operators and organizers in EU and APAC markets, this means enhanced tools for real-time alerts, reducing exposure to fraud and bolstering bettor trust amid a sector projected to exceed $50 billion by 2034.

Source: The Esports Advocate

BETER Joins ESIC to Combat Match-Fixing in Esports Betting

BETER, a leading provider of esports and sports betting content, joined ESIC as a Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Supporter on May 6, 2025, expanding integrity safeguards for its 36,000+ monthly ESports Battle events. The partnership deploys BETER's in-house monitoring alongside ESIC's global framework to flag anomalies, with only 0.01% of events raising red flags last year. This includes 24/7 whistleblowing, athlete education, and law enforcement collaborations to preempt cheating and fraud.

In a landscape where match-fixing scandals have plagued APAC circuits, such as recent CS2 cases in Mongolia, BETER's involvement addresses vulnerabilities in fast-paced betting markets. It supports EU and African operators by integrating data-driven transparency, helping prevent organized crime infiltration, as seen in over 70 suspicious bets tied to syndicates. ESIC's Hanna noted BETER's "innovative approach to data-driven engagement" as key to disrupting corruption. Stakeholders benefit from reduced liability and higher compliance, fostering sustainable growth in regions with rising mobile betting penetration.

Source: Esports Insider

Riot Updates Esports Code to Reinforce Betting Accountability

Riot Games unveiled its 2025 Esports Global Code of Conduct on December 7, 2025, imposing stricter measures on match-fixing and gambling violations to protect League of Legends and VALORANT circuits. Key changes hold professionals accountable for affiliates' actions, such as agents sharing insider info, while permitting participation in sanctioned fantasy contests without monetary rewards. These updates aim to deter manipulation amid booming betting volumes, with global turnover on Riot titles hitting $10.7 billion in 2024.

The revisions matter for EU and APAC operators, where 70% of wagers occur in unregulated spaces, heightening integrity risks. By extending liability, Riot preempts scandals that could erode market confidence, especially post its January 2025 sponsorship policy easing betting deals for Tier 1 teams. This framework supports geographic expansion, like VCT events in Seoul, by mandating education and monitoring. As Riot invests betting revenues into lower-tier integrity programs, it sets a benchmark for publishers, enabling operators to offer secure markets in Brazil and Germany without fear of disruptions.

Source: Riot Games Competitive Operations

VALORANT Betting Explodes Amid Sponsorship Policy Shift

VALORANT esports betting activity skyrocketed 175% year-over-year in H1 2025, propelled by Riot's policy permitting betting sponsorships—first showcased at VCT Masters Bangkok with logos on team jerseys. DATA.BET reported a stake share of 22.53% in Q2, covering 30+ titles across Tier 1-4 tournaments, with micro-betting innovations driving engagement in APAC markets such as Thailand and Korea.

This surge underscores esports betting's maturation, shifting from gray markets to regulated partnerships that enhance liquidity for EU and LatAm operators—viral social moments from teams like T1 amplified visibility, correlating with CS2's 57% global volume share. For stakeholders, it means diversified revenue—projected at $2.8 billion for esports wagering in 2025—but demands robust age verification to mitigate addiction risks in youth-heavy demographics. As Riot reinvests proceeds into prize pools, the policy catalyzes sustainable expansion, positioning VALORANT as a betting powerhouse in non-US regions.

Source: iGaming Future

Global Esports Betting Revenue Nears $4.8 Billion Milestone

The global esports market is forecast to generate $4.8 billion in 2025, with betting accounting for $2.8 billion—led by sponsorships at $1.6 billion—driven by regulatory easing in EU and APAC jurisdictions. Quantumrun's August 21, 2025, projections highlight that smartphone adoption and media rights are fueling this, as operators in Australia and Brazil integrate blockchain for transparent wagering.

This trend benefits operators by unlocking high-margin streams in emerging African markets, where fan engagement rivals that of traditional sports. With corporate tie-ups targeting the 18-34 demographic, it counters sponsorship pullbacks but requires integrity alignment to sustain trust. As non-US regions liberalize—e.g., Germany's streamlined approvals—betting's dominance signals a pivot from merchandise, empowering tournament organizers to scale events without US dependencies.

Source: Quantumrun Foresight