Is League of Legends betting illegal?

League of Legends is an electronic sports game that has been developed for a long time and is popular in many countries around the world, including Vietnam. League of Legends battles attract millions of viewers worldwide. 

League of Legends is an electronic sports game that has been developed for a long time

However, when it comes to betting on League of Legends (LOL) at fraudulent betting websites, the severity of penalties imposed by Riot Games will depend on the level of violation, especially for players and employees of Garena. So, can betting on League of Legends be prosecuted? Let's explore this with Wagering website.

Betting on League of Legends - What are the penalties?

League of Legends is the most popular game in Vietnam for all age groups, which is why gamers' interest in LOL tournaments is enormous. To bet on matches between two teams, enthusiasts easily access foreign esports betting sites to place their trust in elements beyond their control.

Like any other sport, esports also faces suspicions of match-fixing, with the most prominent case perhaps being that of the game AOE. Numerous scandals and revelations between fans and players, as well as among players themselves, have brought up suspicions of match-fixing.

Recently, during the ongoing MSI tournament, an unbelievable incident occurred involving Garena Taiwan. The incident involved an employee from the presentation department at Garena Taiwan who, while streaming MSI, switched to another tab on his screen, revealing a betting website for League of Legends. The displayed information indicated that he had been betting on matches at this year's MSI. This behavior is unacceptable and unprofessional from an employee directly associated with Garena.

Following this incident and facing a barrage of criticism from online viewers, Riot swiftly cut off all channels associated with Garena, including Vietnam Esports TV (VED). Riot investigated and dealt with the situation. The Taiwanese LMS tournament was shaken by this match-fixing incident, serving as a larger warning sign that betting involvement exists in League of Legends. This incident serves as a wake-up call to Riot, urging them to better control fair play within the game.

League of Legends is the most popular game in Vietnam for all age groups

According to the rules of professional esports, particularly in the discipline of League of Legends, except for events organized by the official publishers (Riot Games, Tencent Games, Garena), all score prediction programs are prohibited and considered violations of the game's regulations.

Through this incident, Garena Taiwan publicly stated that any employees found guilty of this broadcast-related misconduct would be fired due to their inappropriate and excessive personal behavior.

See more: Guide to League of Legends Betting for Beginners.

Riot Games Takes Strong Action Against Illegal Betting Websites in China

It can be said that gambling is a persistent issue and concern not only for traditional sports but also for esports. Recently, a South Korean esports news website called Inven published an article addressing the problem of betting on League of Legends matches linked to Chinese gambling websites. What makes these betting instances distinctive is that they specifically target ranked matches on the Korean server.

Normally, betting sites focus on matches within domestic or international tournaments. Chinese betting websites have come up with a unique tactic - betting on ranked matches on the Korean server. These bets are placed on well-known professional League of Legends players.

It can be said that gambling is a persistent issue and concern not only for traditional sports but also for esports

As a response, Riot Games Korea conducted an investigation and discovered over 10,000 accounts ranked Diamond 2 and above engaging in suspicious activities and intentional match manipulation. They decided to suspend these accounts starting from December 8th to prevent further disruption of ranked matches. Riot Korea stated, "Intentional feeding or illegal betting in ranked matches is unacceptable in any form. We, at Riot Games, will do everything within our power to prevent such actions."

Conclusion

Through the article, it is hoped that readers have gained an understanding of whether betting on League of Legends is prosecutable. League of Legends currently attracts millions of players and regularly hosts national, continental, and world championship tournaments. Therefore, if you wish to engage in League of Legends betting, it is advisable to choose the best bookmaker available. Additionally, when participating in esports betting, it is important to do so responsibly and avoid excessive gambling, to avoid regrettable outcomes. Wishing you the best of luck.