As the esports industry searches for new sources of revenue, Riot Games has opened up its League of Legends and Valorant esports leagues to sports betting sponsorships. According to Riot, the reason for this change is because it’s what the players and esports organizations have been asking for. It’s forced esports organizations and esports game publishers alike to find new ways to pay players and staff or risk shuttering entirely, as the Overwatch League has. (Even The Verge is not immune with Vox Media displaying ads for gambling companies on its sites and podcasts.) Until now, Riot has prohibited its esports partner organizations from taking sponsorships from gambling companies.