Esports Team ECSTATIC Joins Forces with Gamban, Rejecting Gambling Deals

Gamban, an award-winning gambling blocking service, has joined forces with the esports team ECSTATIC, becoming its new partner and main sponsor. The team celebrated the tie-up, saying that it wishes to champion safer gambling and “create meaningful impact.”

ECSTATIC Rejects Gambling Sponsorships

The partnership was announced on September 12, with ECSTATIC, a professional Counter-Strike 2 team, emphasizing that it preferred to highlight the risks of gambling rather than having a gambling sponsor.

In its official announcement, ECSTATIC pointed out that more than 80% of the top CS2 teams are sponsored by casino operators, many of which are offshore and lack proper harm prevention measures and ID checks. ECSTATIC, however, expressed commitment to “inspiring positive change”

While the team acknowledged that its ability to prevent gambling harm is limited, it emphasized that together with Gamban, it can truly make a change.

As part of the partnership, ECSTATIC and Gamban vowed to launch a new community Discord hub that will allow people to talk about gambling and their experiences with harm. Among other things, participants will be able to join anonymous peer groups, talk with experts, and gain access to useful tools that can help them stop gambling.

ECTSATIC said that its members believe that seeking help should be “easy and stigma-free, especially for younger gamers who feel out of place.”

Gamban’s Wants Industries to Invest in Esports without Exploiting Addiction  

While ECSTATIC acknowledged that gambling has become “heavily ingrained” in the esports sector, it said that a future without it is possible. To that end, it is paramount to “unlock this hard-to-reach gaming demographic to mainstream brands.”

Matt Zarb-Cousin, Gamban’s co-founder, commented on the new partnership, saying that Gamban has so far helped countless people exclude themselves from gambling and set out on their recovery journeys.

He said: “Partnering with a team that rejects gambling sponsorship entirely is a powerful first step. We hope this inspires others to invest in esports without exploiting addiction.”