Riot Games Issues Warning to Benjyfishy and Fines Team Heretics for Gambling Breach

Riot Games has issued a formal warning to Benjamin “Benjyfishy” Fish, a professional VALORANT player for Team Heretics, after determining he violated Article 3.15 of the Riot Games Esports Global Code of Conduct regarding gambling. Additionally, Riot has levied a fine against Team Heretics.

On November 4, 2024, Team Heretics’ management informed Riot Games that Benjyfishy had placed a bet on the League of Legends World Championship Final between T1 and Bilibili Gaming, held on November 2, 2024. The bet earned him €100 in winnings.

Following this report, Riot Games initiated disciplinary proceedings on November 6, 2024, and gave Benjyfishy an opportunity to submit a written statement. On November 8, 2024, he provided his response, fully acknowledging his actions and cooperating throughout the process.

According to Article 3.15 of the Riot Games Esports Global Code of Conduct, esports professionals are strictly prohibited from engaging in any form of gambling related to Riot Games’ titles. This includes betting on any matches or components, regardless of whether the individual competes in that esport or not.

Ruling

After reviewing the evidence, Riot Games confirmed that Benjyfishy’s actions constituted a violation of the Global Code of Conduct. However, significant mitigating factors influenced the decision:

• Full Cooperation: Benjyfishy assisted with the investigation, providing detailed information about his actions and betting account.

• Minimal Impact: The bet involved League of Legends, a title unrelated to his professional career in VALORANT, and posed no direct threat to competitive integrity.

• Accountability: Benjyfishy proactively reported his actions to Team Heretics’ management and expressed genuine remorse, even volunteering to make a charitable donation.

These considerations led Riot Games to impose a formal warning rather than harsher penalties.

In addition to the warning issued to Benjyfishy, Riot Games fined Team Heretics, highlighting the organization’s obligation to ensure compliance with the Global Code of Conduct.

Riot Games emphasized that any future violations by Benjyfishy will result in stricter sanctions. This case reaffirms Riot’s commitment to upholding competitive integrity and enforcing its rules across all its esports titles.

Author's Note : It is worth noting that Riot Games issued this warning to Benjyfishy before announcing the allowance of gambling sponsors in the VCT on November 28, 2024.