1xBet and MIBR Announce VALORANT Partnership

The pioneering move in the competitive VALORANT scene sees Brazilian heavyweights MIBR form a strategic partnership with 1xBet to expand their global presence and create a new, immersive fan base.

The deal follows Riot Games' decision to lift restrictions on gambling sponsors for teams competing in VALORANT and League of Legends.

This regulatory change was made primarily to open new revenue streams for organisations competing in Riot's circuits and to align the titles with broader industry standards.

However, while the rule change has been in place for some time, MIBR decided to move quickly to secure a deal with one of the largest global gambling brands, setting a precedent for other top-tier teams to follow suit.

The partnership comes after a fairly successful season for MIBR.

The Brazilian team, which made significant changes for the 2025 season, did not take long to establish themselves as one of the top contenders in the region.

With bronze medals from VCT Americas Kickoff and Stage 1, MIBR qualified for the season-ending VALORANT Champions. There, they left a positive mark, ending the world championship in fifth-sixth place.

"This is a historic step for 1xBet, becoming the first official betting partner of an esports team within the Riot Games ecosystem," said Strategic Advisor at 1xBet, Simon Westbury.

While a notable deal, this is not the first partnership 1xBet have made with an esports team and not the first in South America.

The bookmaker have partnered with Bestia in September, a deal that focuses on the Counter-Strike 2 scene. In the same month, 1xBet also joined forces with 9z Team, becoming the main sponsor of the Argentine squad.

With 1xBet not becoming the first gambling operator to enter Riot Games' esports league, it will be interesting to see whether other operators will follow suit and link up with teams from VALORANT or League of Legends.