Riot Games Explores Sponsorship Deals With Polymarket And Kalshi

Riot Games is reportedly holding discussions with prediction market operators Polymarket and Kalshi over potential sponsorship agreements, as the esports publisher explores additional commercial opportunities for its competitive gaming ecosystem.

According to Bloomberg, Riot has been evaluating partnerships with the two companies following its decision in 2025 to relax restrictions on gambling sponsorships across its League of Legends and Valorant competitions.

No agreements have been announced, and neither Polymarket nor Kalshi has publicly confirmed the reported discussions. Riot has acknowledged that it is assessing the prediction markets sector, with particular attention to competitive integrity, team revenue and the wider fan experience.

Riot Games Evaluates Prediction Market Opportunities

The potential agreements could introduce another source of sponsorship revenue for Riot's esports competitions and participating teams. However, the publisher has indicated that any involvement with prediction markets would need to meet its existing commercial and integrity requirements.

Joe Hixson, a spokesperson for Riot Games, told Bloomberg:

“Prediction markets are an emerging space that we’re evaluating with a focus on safeguarding competitive integrity, potential value for teams, impact on the fan experience, and alignment with our broader ecosystem goals.”

The discussions follow Riot's decision last year to permit approved gambling sponsorships in its esports ecosystem, creating additional commercial opportunities for teams and tournament organisers.

Prediction market operators have subsequently increased their involvement in professional sport and esports, with Polymarket already establishing partnerships with tournament organiser BLAST and esports data provider GRID.

Official GRID Data Could Be Required

Bloomberg reported that any prediction market operator approved as a Riot Games sponsor would be required to obtain official esports betting data through GRID.

Riot's existing framework requires approved gambling partners to source match data exclusively through the provider. The arrangement is intended to support competitive integrity by ensuring operators use authorised data rather than potentially unreliable or manipulated information.

Polymarket already has a relationship with GRID, which distributes official Riot Games data. The existing partnership could provide a technical foundation for any future commercial agreement, although Riot has not confirmed that a sponsorship will proceed.

The reported discussions also coincide with GRID's launch of GRID Odds, a new betting service offering data-driven pricing across esports markets. Its coverage includes match winners, map winners, player-specific markets and in-round betting.

However, prediction market prices are generally determined through trading activity between participants rather than being set directly by an operator. It remains unclear whether GRID Odds would form part of any services supplied to prediction market platforms.

UK Gambling Regulations Could Affect Sponsorship Plans

Any potential agreements would also need to account for differing regulatory requirements across the markets in which Riot operates.

Kalshi and Polymarket are not currently authorised to offer their prediction market products to consumers in Great Britain. Their regulatory position differs from that of conventional sportsbooks, with certain event-contract platforms operating under US federal commodities regulation.

The UK government is also reviewing gambling sponsorship arrangements involving operators that do not hold a UK Gambling Commission licence. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched a review in July, with particular attention directed towards sponsorship agreements involving Premier League football clubs.

Although the review has largely focused on football, any future restrictions could have implications for esports sponsorships and tournament broadcasts reaching British audiences. The eventual scope of any changes has not been confirmed.

Riot would therefore need to consider the regulatory status of potential partners across individual jurisdictions, particularly where sponsorship arrangements involve international competitions and broadcasts.

For now, the discussions remain exploratory, with Riot yet to announce any formal prediction market partnerships or provide a timetable for a decision.