Brazilian esports giant MIBR has become the first organization in Riot Games’ global ecosystem to receive official approval for a betting partnership, announcing 1xBet as the newest sponsor of its VALORANT roster.
This milestone for MIBR VALORANT and 1xBet follows Riot’s policy shift last June that opened the door for betting sponsors in both VALORANT and League of Legends Tier 1 esports scenes across the Americas and EMEA. Riot’s greenlight came after an extensive compliance process the team began earlier in the year.
“Being the first organization in the entire Riot ecosystem to get approval for a betting sponsorship is a direct result of the way MIBR operates today, as an organized company, with robust governance, clear processes, and protected by policies that put competitive integrity first. This preparation shortened the process,” Raphael Castanheira, director of Marketing and Partnerships at MIBR, said.
MIBR expands partnership with 1xBet through VALORANT sponsorship
The approval allows MIBR to fully integrate 1xBet’s branding into its VALORANT lineup, adding another major vertical to a partnership that has been steadily expanding across the organization.
The relationship between MIBR and 1xBet began in 2022 through Counter-Strike, which has grown since then. In early 2025, the agreement was expanded to include MIBR Rap Clube’s creators, and now incorporates the VALORANT roster as a new pillar of the deal.
Streamer and former VALORANT Champions winner Gustavo “Sacy” Ross has also joined as an ambassador, becoming one of the leading faces of this partnership between the Brazilian org and one of the leading esports betting firms.
With this expanded collaboration, both sides aim to create an immersive fan base, drive global visibility for MIBR, and help grow interest in Riot’s FPS title, especially across Latin America.
“This is a historic step for 1xBet—becoming the first official betting partner of an esports team within the Riot Games ecosystem,” Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor at 1xBet, said. “MIBR features some of the most visible and talented players in Latin America, and we aim to strengthen VALORANT’s presence across the LATAM region.”
MIBR has stated it is closing the year by reinforcing its governance model and launching a new series of activations featuring Sacy and its CS2, VALORANT, and Rap Clube lineups. The org emphasizes that all activities will comply with Riot’s policies on competitive integrity and responsible communication.
For 1xBet, the deal continues a rapid expansion into esports. In 2025, the online gambling company added South American CS2 squads Bestia and 9z Team to its roster of partners, building on existing partnerships with Aurora Gaming and The MongolZ.
