Riot Games and Sportradar announce integrity services partnership

Video game developer Riot Games has today announced a partnership with sports data and analytics firm Sportradar. 

The deal will see Sportradar Integrity Services monitor the global betting activity taking place with relation to domestic and international League of Legends esports competitions organised by Riot Games and report any potential integrity issues to the company.

Doug Watson, Head of Esports Insights at Riot Games, commented in a release: “The competitive integrity of our sport is of the utmost importance for Riot Games. As our sport continues to grow, it’s important that we monitor developing trends and ensure we have the necessary mechanisms in place to account for shifts in our industry. This partnership with Sportradar enables us to protect our players, teams, and competitions and continue to deliver a best-in-class product to our fans.”

Sportradar Integrity Services will also provide Riot Games with access to its Intelligence and Investigation Services unit. Additionally, the companies will work together to review the esports organiser’s in-house integrity policies, procedures, and future educational programs for professional esports competitors.

“Through this partnership, Riot Games is bolstering its capabilities by implementing an effective and innovative integrity program,” added, Andy Cunningham, Head of Integrity Services and League Relations, North America at Sportradar. “With legal sports betting expected to grow over the next several years, especially in the U.S., we are encouraged by Riot’s proactivity, as it looks to maintain and further establish its leadership position in the esports space.”

In January, Sportradar and DOJO Madness launched a joint venture with sports data company titled Bayes Esports Solutions. Sportradar has also previously worked with ESEN eSports, ESIC and ESL.

Esports Insider says: With regulated esports betting on the rise its great to see Riot Games taking responsibility for the activity surrounding League of Legends. The data collected will also be a great tool for Riot to understand the betting landscape around its game. Moreover, it’s about time publishers started taking care of the integrity of their game. This is a great move by Riot and we would be keen to see more publishers take steps to protect the integrity of their respective titles. 

ESI London 2019 – Find out more