ESPORTS RIOT GAMES ARBITRATION COURT
Currently, Esports are worth globally around US$3.3 billion (around Sw. Frs. 2.7 billion) and are expected to double in value during the next three years.
With so much money at stake, the question naturally arises how best to settle Esports disputes.
In line with the current trend for settling sports-related disputes, the preferred method is extra-judicially.
Riot Games, therefore, launched the Dispute Resolution for Riot Games’ Esports (EMEA) Arbitration Court, in November 2024.
This is an independent tribunal for settling disputes between teams, players and coaches in the Riot’s League of Legends and VALORANT ecosystems in the EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa) region.
The tribunal deals with the disputes that most often arise in professional esports, namely, unpaid salaries, bonuses, prize money and transfers.
However, it does not cover disputes with tournament organisers licensed by Riot to run regional Tier 2 leagues.
Use of the tribunal is entirely voluntary, having jurisdiction only where the parties in dispute have agreed to submit their disputes to it.
The German sports law firm, Martens Rechtsanwaelte, set up the tribunal at Riot’s request and administers it.
Its seat is in Zurich, and its proceedings are governed by Chapter 12 of the Swiss Federal Act on Private International Law of 18 December 1987. This follows traditional sports arbitration, which is based on the liberal framework and long experience of international arbitration in Switzerland.
The most important aspect of the tribunal is that its awards are made ex aequo et bono, that is, based on fairness and equity, without applying any national law.
A sole arbitrator, who is chosen from a closed list of 14, decides each case. There is a single round of written submissions, no oral hearing and the proceedings are confidential.
The parties in dispute share equally the costs of the Arbitrator.
If a party to the proceedings fails to comply with an Award, Riot may impose sporting or financial sanctions on that party.
The first case handled by the tribunal was filed in August 2025 and was settled amicably less than six weeks later.
We advise and represent clients in Esports disputes and for further information email our Managing Partner, Dr Lucien Valloni, or our International Sports Law Consultant, Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw, at valloni@valloni.ch and blackshaw@valloni.ch respectively.