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Overwatch League and Call of Duty League adjust rules to allow betting and liquor sponsors

Overwatch League and Call of Duty League adjust rules to allow betting and liquor sponsors

Activision Blizzard is loosening the rules teams have to abide by when it comes to sponsorships, allowing betting companies and alcoholic drinks to sponsor teams.

Overwatch League and Call of Duty League adjust rules to allow betting and liquor sponsors

Publisher Activision Blizzard has revised its sponsorship rules for teams competing in the Overwatch League or the Call of Duty League. According to a report from The Esports Observer, teams are now allowed to have sponsors who operate a gambling website or advertise liquor.

Up until now, it was strictly forbidden to have sponsors that offered products or services targeted at adults. The Overwatch League itself, however, did have beer brand Bud Light as its sponsor in the past.

The report is backed up by an announcement from the London Royal Ravens, a team owned by ReKTGlobal, who also control League of Legends team Rogue. Royal Ravens have announced MIDNITE, an esports and sports betting platform, will be sponsoring them going forward.

Though no other teams have announced betting and/or liquor brands as sponsor yet, it seems to be only a matter of time given the prevalence of especially betting platforms in esports.

Image courtesy of Florida Mutineers.

Tom Matthiesen

Esports journalist since 2015. Amateur pizza connoisseur, semi-professional binge watcher. Proud Veigar main in League of Legends.