Riot Games faces mounting pressure after explosive claims of match-fixing and betting fraud in the NA VALORANT scene. Here’s what we know.
Riot urged to act as VALORANT Tier 2 rocked by betting scandal
North American VALORANT’s Tier 2 scene is in turmoil after bombshell allegations from Shopify Rebellion General Manager Sean ‘sgares’ Gares, who has accused players and teams of widespread match-fixing, cheating, and links to underground gambling rings.
In a video posted to social media, Gares described the scene as “rotten to the core” and claimed that some players are earning “tens of thousands of dollars” per month by throwing matches—money that far outweighs what they make through legitimate competition.
“Not only are these people stealing money from the people who are gambling,” he said, “but they’re also stealing the livelihood of the players who are actually doing it fair… and that’s what angers me the most.”
The match-fixing scandal has shaken the VALORANT esports community and sparked urgent calls for Riot Games to act swiftly.
Gares, a well-respected veteran of the Counter-Strike and VALORANT scenes, stated he’s been “looking into this for quite a bit” and working with Riot and other stakeholders to verify claims.
He’s also warned players to protect themselves, saying, “If you’re innocent, I recommend you screen record everything… because what I know about this? You won’t have it for long.”
With investigations ongoing, Gares has promised a major follow-up next week, hinting at deeper revelations that could implicate multiple teams and individuals within the NA VALORANT Challengers League.
This isn’t just a threat to competitive integrity—it also has major implications for VALORANT betting markets.
With suspicions of rigged results now public, some of the top esports betting sites could be forced to reevaluate their offerings on Tier 2 VALORANT matches.
Phrases like “match-fixing,” “cheating scandal,” and “underground betting rings” are being thrown around alongside the names of esports betting apps that host real-money VALORANT odds.
For punters, the scandal raises serious concerns about the reliability of VALORANT betting tips, live betting lines, and outright futures on Tier 2 competitions.
The issue, according to Gares, stems from a perfect storm of financial instability and lack of oversight.
“All of these jobs gone, in a couple of years. What has happened to the scene?” he asked, pointing to the departure of major esports organisations like FaZe Clan and Complexity Gaming.
Without the backing of well-funded orgs and a strong path-to-pro system, Tier 2 players have been left scrambling for income—some, it seems, turning to unethical and illegal means.
The scandal has drawn support for Gares from across the community, with players like s0m, Asuna, and Chet all urging him to release more information.
Streamer MrFunHaver also made similar allegations during a recent livestream, further validating Gares’ claims and criticizing Riot’s handling of the competitive structure.
As one of the most talked-about topics in esports this week, “VALORANT match-fixing” is now trending across forums, betting news sites, and gambling watchdog platforms.
With Riot Games reportedly conducting its own internal investigation, the coming days could be pivotal.
If the allegations are proven true, the fallout may include bans, structural reforms, and potentially a reset for the Tier 2 ecosystem.
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