Esports organization Ecstatic opposes gambling sponsorship

In an industry often supported by gambling sponsorships, the Danish esports team Ecstatic has initiated a collaboration with Gamban, a company known for helping individuals manage gambling issues through its software. This stands as the initial sponsorship of its kind for an esports team, highlighting gambling harm prevention instead of promoting betting practices.

Ecstatic disclosed this partnership on September 12, 2025, describing it as a pioneering effort concentrating on the safety of individuals without endorsing gambling activities.

Gamban’s software is designed to restrict access to online gambling platforms by blocking betting sites and apps, serving as a resource for those dealing with gambling addiction.

"Gamban has been aiding individuals in blocking gambling access for a decade, thus allowing them to commence recovery," stated Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder of Gamban. "Aligning with a team that completely shuns gambling deals is an influential starting point. We aim to motivate others towards non-exploitative esports investments."

The collaboration involves creating a Discord community hub, where participants can access peer support groups, listen to expert discussions, and find practical aids for halting or pausing gambling activities.

Additionally, the partnership strives to provide help in a non-judgmental manner to younger audiences and aims to demonstrate the viability of non-gambling sponsors in the esports industry.

Ecstatic co-owner Oliver 'zipeL' Behrensdorff remarked, "This matter is deeply personal for me." He shared, "I have encountered gambling issues myself, and installing Gamban was the first step towards positive change for me. We aim to offer support to those in need."

An Esports Insider study highlights that agreements with gambling firms constitute 25% of the total revenue from esports sponsorships. Major teams like Faze Clan, Fnatic, and Heroic have made agreements with betting providers.

Earlier in the year, Riot Games introduced opportunities for betting sponsorships in Tier 1 League of Legends and Valorant teams across the Americas and EMEA, albeit with "guardrails" to preserve the established ecosystem. Their "well-researched sports betting partnership program" screens potential partners rigorously.

In a blog post, John Needham, the president of publishing and esports at Riot Games, expressed understanding of diverse opinions on betting, acknowledging its presence in the sports landscape regardless of whether the company partakes or not.