Riot Games adds Sportradar as integrity partnerSportradar to help Riot identify fraud quicker than before Riot needs to focus on clearing up its name after a sexism lawsuit scandal
Sportradar and Riot Games team up to guarantee better integrity for players and competitions around the world.
Sportradar and Riot Games Conclude IntegrityProtection Deal
Sportradar, a data analytic company, has announced a new partnership with Tencent-owned game developer Riot Games, famous for their work on one of the blockbuster esports titles, League of Legends. Since the arrival of the game, Riot Games have transformed themselves into an event organizer, running and assisting multiple leagues around the world on the professional and collegiate level.
As part of the deal, Sportradar Integrity Services will be leveraged to establish better supervision of the professional esports community built around League of Legends. The platform will help Riot Games spot and investigate suspicious activity at a short notice, assisting in Riot’s efforts to uphold the integrity of its brand.
We've today announced a new integrity partnership with @riotgames ?
As well as monitoring global betting activity, we'll also be providing access to our specialised Intelligence and Investigation Services unit.
Read more: https://t.co/Ba4qOy1bW1 pic.twitter.com/teWGtqSGm3
— Sportradar (@Sportradar) July 30, 2019
This comes at a time taya365 when Riot Games is embroiled in a sexism lawsuit with employees staging a walk-out over the “toxic culture” within the company. Meanwhile, Riot remain in charge on several high-profile events in esports that need extra care in handling any security and integrity risks, including:
League of legends World champions The League Championship Series Mid-Season Invitational
Stressing the importance of the partnership, Sportradar Head of Integrity Service North America, Andy Cunningham, had this to say:
“Through this partnership, Riot Games is bolstering itscapabilities by implementing an effective and innovative integrityprogram. With legal sports betting expected to grow over the nextseveral years, especially in the U.S., we are encouraged by Riot’sproactivity, as it looks to maintain and further establish itsleadership position in the esports space.”
Sportradar will let Riot access to the company’s Intelligence and Investigation Service solution, which would allow the game developer to keep better track of its in-house operations.
Doug Watson, Riot’s Head of Esports, has acknowledged thatkeeping esports competitive would require protecting the integrity ofevents. Faced with expanding global reach, Riot are obliged to up theante insofar as their protection mechanisms go.
“This partnership with Sportradar enables us to protect our players, teams, and competitions and continue to deliver a best-in-class product to our fans,” Watson concluded.
Tackling Sexism at Home
Not much has happened since the firstreports came in that Riot is encouraging a sexist environment towardsits female staff. Managers were reportedlydiscriminating against employees as not being too “assertiveenough” or not “gamer enough”.
The case was reported byCecilia D’Anastasioin Kotaku and it has since empowered Riot employees to stand up topractices that they regarded as frivolous and discriminatory. Withthis being said, Riot will need to do a lot to clear up its image. InMarch, the company hired a new chief diversity officer, AngelaRoseboro, to help the company solve its internal problems.
