Benjyfishy, a professional Valorant player under Team Heretics, has received a warning from Riot Games after admitting to placing a bet on the League of Legends Worlds 2024 Final. Despite competing in a different esport, his actions violated Riot’s Esports Global Code of Conduct, sparking discussions about esports integrity and player education.
The Incident: What Happened?
British esports star Benjy ‘benjyfishy’ Fish bet €200 on T1 to defeat BLG in the grand final of the League of Legends Worlds at the O2 Arena in London. His prediction was correct, netting him €100. However, his actions contravened Riot’s Code of Conduct, specifically Section 3.15, which prohibits esports professionals from betting on any game or competition governed by Riot Games, even if it’s outside their discipline.
Benjyfishy promptly realized his error and self-reported the incident to his team, which escalated the matter to Riot Games. As a result, he received an official warning, and his team, Team Heretics, was fined.
Riot’s Response and Mitigation Factors
Riot Games considered several mitigating factors in their decision. According to their statement:
- Cooperation: Benjyfishy provided full transparency, including access to his betting account.
- Accountability: He self-reported the breach and demonstrated sincere remorse by proactively donating his winnings to charity.
- First-Time Offense: This was Benjyfishy’s first infraction, underscoring the absence of malice or recurring issues.
Riot emphasized the importance of the rule, stating, “These factors reflect Benjyfishy’s accountability and his understanding of the seriousness of the rules he breached.”
Team Heretics: A Proactive Stance
Niklas Geiß, General Manager for Team Heretics’ Valorant division, defended Benjyfishy, calling his actions “a fan mistake” rather than one of malicious intent. Geiß highlighted the team’s quick response to the situation, ensuring transparency with Riot Games.
“Benjy realized his mistake immediately and reached out to me. Within the same hour, we notified Riot,” said Geiß. “The fine is understandable, but Benjy’s cooperation and remorse should also be acknowledged.”
Benjyfishy Speaks Out
Addressing the controversy on Twitch and Twitter, Benjyfishy expressed regret, explaining he momentarily forgot about the rule while caught up in his excitement as a T1 fan. “I’m not blaming Riot. This rule exists for a reason,” he said. “I self-reported because I value my career and integrity. I’m just an idiot who made a fan mistake.”
A Broader Call for Education
This incident has reignited conversations about the importance of educating players on esports regulations. Team Heretics has urged Riot to increase awareness among players, especially regarding cross-esport betting rules.
Benjyfishy’s betting incident highlights the evolving challenges in maintaining esports integrity. While his accountability and Riot’s balanced response have resolved the immediate issue, the incident underscores the need for greater education to prevent similar occurrences in the future. As esports continues to grow, fostering a culture of compliance and awareness is critical to its sustainability and professionalism.
