Esports team Ecstatic takes a stand against gambling sponsorship

Against a backdrop of increasing sponsorship by gambling firms in esports, the Danish Counter-Strike team Ecstatic has announced a partnership with Gamban, a software company that helps those struggling with gambling.

This marks the first time a professional esports team has seen its primary sponsorship come from a company tackling gambling harm.

Announced in a press release on September 12, 2025, Ecstatic called the sponsorship a “groundbreaking partnership focused on protecting people, not promoting betting.”

Gamban provides gambling-blocking software that helps those struggling with gambling to block access to betting sites and apps, such as online casinos.

“For ten years, Gamban has helped people block access to gambling on their devices and begin their recovery,” said Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder of Gamban.

“Partnering with a team that rejects gambling sponsorship entirely is a powerful first step. We hope this inspires others to invest in esports without exploiting addiction.”

As part of the partnership, Ecstatic and Gamban will launch a community Discord hub, offering anonymous peer groups, expert talks, and practical tools for individuals seeking support to stop or pause their gambling.

In addition, the partnership hopes to “make help easy and stigma-free,” particularly for young fans, and to prove that “non-gambling sponsors can thrive in esports.”

“This is personal for me,” said Ecstatic co-owner Oliver ‘zipeL’ Behrensdorff.

“I’ve had periods of problem gambling myself, and installing Gamban was my first step toward change. We’re not here to high-road anyone. We’re here to offer a lifeline to those who need one.”

According to a report by Esports Insider, gambling sponsorships now represent 25% of total esports sponsorship revenue, with numerous professional esports teams and organisations, including FazeClan, Fnatic, and Heroic, signing deals with betting companies.

In June, Riot Games opened betting sponsorship opportunities for Tier 1 League of Legends and Valorant teams in the Americas and EMEA for the first time.

The company has put in “guardrails” to “safeguard the ecosystem” it has built, including establishing “a well-researched sports betting partnership program” that vets its betting partners.

“We know sports betting isn’t for everyone, and that some fans have strong feelings about it, and we respect that,” John Needham, president of publishing and esports at Riot Games, said in a blog post announcing the news.

“However, the reality is that betting activity already exists around our sports and will continue whether we engage with it or not.”