How “franchises” and partnerships shape esports betting in 2025
Riot’s Americas leagues for League of Legends were restructured into the League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA) for the 2025 season, merging the former LCS, CBLOL and LLA into North and South conferences. This shift retained a partnership model (long-term slots) and added limited guest slots, changing regional strength assumptions and travel patterns bettors should consider.
LEC in EMEA also operates on a long-term partnership basis rather than promotion/relegation, similar in spirit to North America’s earlier franchising.
Valorant’s top tier uses the VCT partner system in the Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China, with named partner teams starting in 2023 and continuing through 2025. Knowing whether a brand is a VCT partner matters for schedule volume and opponent quality.
Snapshot: what the big org names actually mean today
TSM
TSM exited the North American LoL league in 2023 and sold its slot to Shopify Rebellion; it has competed in other titles and explored Counter-Strike 2 rosters since then. Treat LoL brand legacy separately from current-season rosters in other games.
Counter-Strike 2 note: TSM re-entered CS in 2023 but benched and then disbanded its roster late in 2024 while reevaluating options for 2025. For bettors, this implies volatility and limited recent sample size.
VCT note: TSM was not among the original 2023 international partner teams; always verify which tier and league they are playing in before pricing.
Cloud9
Cloud9 competes in the LTA North conference for League of Legends and remains a VCT Americas partner in Valorant, giving the brand predictable top-tier schedules across two Riot titles.
In CS2, Cloud9 maintains a high-profile roster lineage after re-entering by acquiring Gambit’s lineup in 2022; current form should be checked against HLTV team pages before you bet.
Fnatic
Fnatic is a long-standing LEC brand and an EMEA VCT partner; its Valorant division has been among the scene’s most decorated since 2023. The org also has deep CS history with multiple Major titles—useful context when markets overreact to short downswings.
Other franchises you’ll see on cards and outrights
G2 Esports (Berlin-based, fields LoL, CS2, Valorant), Team Liquid (Netherlands-based multi-title org), Natus Vincere/NAVI (Ukraine; CS and Dota pedigree), Team Vitality (France; CS2 among others), and NRG (US; multi-title) are frequent market makers across titles. Do not price the logo—price the roster and recent data.
Brand halo vs. roster reality: a betting framework
- Verify the league and tier
Confirm whether the team is in a partner league (e.g., LTA, LEC, VCT International) or a lower tier. Partner leagues imply steadier schedules and stronger opposition; lower tiers can be noisier and harder to model. - Pull objective stats, not vibes
Use primary stat hubs: HLTV for CS2 (maps, sides, MR12 win-probability matrices), VLR.gg for Valorant (agent comps, player form), and Oracle’s Elixir for pro LoL (downloadable match data, draft and objective stats). - Account for rules and format changes
CS2 moved to MR12 (first to 13), increasing the leverage of pistols and early economy; totals and handicaps react differently than in old MR15. Valorant uses win-by-two overtime blocks. LoL patches and objective changes (e.g., Baron updates) reshape metas even mid-season—track patch notes before you assume continuity. - Separate brand from current edge
Legacy brands like TSM, Cloud9, Fnatic, G2, Liquid, NAVI and Vitality drive handle, but prices should reflect current rosters, travel, ping, practice issues, and coaching changes, not just history. Cross-check on Liquipedia or team pages, then validate with recent performance data.
Title-by-title betting checklists
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Confirm MR12 context and recent patch effects on economy and round volatility.
- Pull team form by map (last 3–6 months), T/CT splits, entry success, and pistol win rates from HLTV stats pages.
- Watch for roster shuffles and stand-ins near event starts; news can swing true prices more than brand history.
League of Legends (LTA/LEC)
- Use Oracle’s Elixir to compare early-game metrics (gold diff at 10/15), objective control, and side-based win rates; segment by patch to avoid meta drift.
- Check structural changes and live patches (e.g., Baron adjustments in 2025) before totals/kill lines.
- Validate conference differences in LTA (North vs South) if you handicap cross-conference matches.
Valorant (VCT and Challengers)
- Confirm if the org is a VCT partner (affects schedule strength and LAN frequency).
- From VLR, pull agent comp usage, entry duels, and map pool; model map bans and comfort picks.
- Price OT volatility correctly with win-by-two rules.
Dota 2
- Use Dotabuff to monitor hero trends and patch shifts that cause sudden team spikes or dips. Consider draft synergy more than brand history.
Mini team cards: what to check before you bet
TSM
- Where they’re active this season (not in LTA after selling their NA slot).
- For CS2, verify if a new roster is live or if the team is inactive; avoid pricing off 2023 results.
Cloud9
- LTA North participation for LoL and partner status in VCT Americas for Valorant.
- CS2 form via HLTV; the org’s return came through the former Gambit core—use recent maps, not brand memory.
Fnatic
- LEC mainstay and VCT EMEA partner; elite Valorant results since 2023 and long CS pedigree.
- Check current roster page and recent LAN performance before assuming tier-one strength.
Compliance and safer-betting reminders
Always use licensed operators. Public registers let you verify a sportsbook’s licence status before you deposit. In Great Britain, search the Gambling Commission register; in many international markets, the Malta Gaming Authority publishes licensee registers.
FAQs
Does a famous brand make a team a favorite?
No. Brand names affect handle, not win probability. Anchor on roster quality, recent form, and the specific league tier they’re in (e.g., LTA partner vs guest; VCT partner vs Challengers).
Is TSM still in top-tier North American LoL?
No. TSM exited the NA league in 2023 and sold its slot to Shopify Rebellion; check their active titles each season before pricing.
Are Cloud9 and Fnatic top-tier in Valorant?
Yes. Cloud9 is a VCT Americas partner, and Fnatic is a VCT EMEA partner. Always verify current rosters and stage results on VLR.
How did CS2’s MR12 change totals and spreads?
Fewer rounds per half increase the leverage of pistols and early economy, making blowouts and short matches more common relative to MR15. Re-tune totals and handicaps accordingly.
Where can I get reliable stats?
HLTV for CS2 team/map data, VLR for Valorant matches and agent comps, and Oracle’s Elixir for pro LoL downloads.
