MIBR is 1xBet’s first official betting partner in Valorant

The esports gambling scene has seen a major boom in recent years, overtaking traditional gambling on many fronts. While Counter-Strike 2 has historically been the most associated with online betting, it seems Riot Games wants to enter the fray, too.

MIBR’s Valorant team is now the first team in the game to become an official partner with a betting website. This raises the question of what this partnership means for the future of Valorant and whether it means that fans can expect more Valorant teams to follow suit.

MIBR teams up with 1xBet

MIBR has teamed up with 1xBet for its Valorant team, making the online gambling company the first official betting partner under Riot Games’ new sponsorship rules. Riot announced it would allow partner teams to adopt betting partners earlier this year, and MIBR is the first organization to announce a deal like that. This partnership is a big step within the Riot Games ecosystem.

1xBet had to go through a hard approval process with Riot Games for this partnership to work. MIBR’s director of marketing and partnerships, Raphael Castanheira, stated that being the first organization to reach this approval is a result of MIBR operating as an organized company with strong governance and policies that focus on competitive integrity.

Partnership details and fan reactions

The partnership will focus on making a new fan experience to boost the team’s global fanbase and improve overall engagement with Valorant. The collaboration will include activations with Gustavo “Sacy” Ross, one of MIBR’s streamers. This deal will extend the existing relationship between 1xBet and MIBR’s Counter-Strike 2 team.

To protect the viewing experience, the Valorant team will likely not wear jerseys with the 1xBet logo on-stage or during streams. Riot’s rules state that its owned broadcast and social channels will remain betting-free, so there won’t be any ads, sponsored parts, or betting partner logos on team jerseys during official events.

1xBet isn’t new to the esports sponsorship scene, and MIBR isn’t the first organization to partner with a betting company. Other rosters with more relaxed sponsor approaches, like the CS2 team 9z, also have deals with 1xBet. It shows a continued increase in their involvement in competitive gaming.

The company often acts as the official betting sponsor for major tournaments, such as the upcoming IEM Cologne 2025. Some of their already-sponsored teams, including MIBR, Aurora, and the MongolZ, compete at these events, integrating the brand into the esports scene.