1xBet declared bankrupt in Dutch court

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The bookmaker sponsors many esports teams and is now dealing with serious legal consequences.

This article was first published in 2023 and has been updated to reflect 1xBet’s involvement in esports since then.

1xBet, a Russian betting company that sponsors many esports teams, has been officially declared bankrupt by the Dutch Supreme Court. This follows a previous bankruptcy ruling from June 2022 made by authorities in Curacao, a Caribbean island.

1xBet, a major sponsor of football clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has filed for bankruptcy following accusations of failing to pay its customers. The news was first reported by the investigative sports journalism site Josimar on January 20th, after 1xBet appealed to the Supreme Court in The Hague.

1xBet was a major sponsor in esports, partnering with teams like Tundra Esports (starting November 2022), OG Esports (starting May 2022, including sponsoring their TI11 Bootcamp Blog), and Team Spirit (announced in May with a flashy video). They also had sponsorships with MiBR and WePlay. According to Asia Gaming Brief, 1xBet supported every major ESL tournament.

What did 1xBet do?

1xBet has gained a bad reputation as a betting site due to frequent issues with paying out winnings, poor customer support, and slow withdrawals. Many users have even accused them of fraudulent practices. On Trustpilot UK – one of the few countries where 1xBet still operates despite attempts to ban it – they have an average rating of just two stars, with 68% of reviews being one-star ratings.

Users have reported issues with withdrawing their winnings. One person said they stopped receiving responses from customer support after submitting their bank statement. Another called the site a “big scam” and warned others to avoid it.

In 2021, the company lost its operating license in Russia. Currently, its parent company, 1xCorp, is facing a lawsuit from the Foundation for Representation of Victims of Online Gaming (SBGOK). This group represents bettors who claim the company owes them approximately $887,750 in unpaid winnings. As a result, the company is dealing with significant legal trouble.

What now for the esports teams 1xBet sponsored?

It’s currently unknown how this will impact the teams that 1xBet sponsors. Tournament organizers like ESL and WePlay are probably safe, as they have other recent investments. However, esports teams like OG, Tundra, Team Spirit, and MiBR could face financial difficulties if 1xBet stops sponsoring them. While the exact amount 1xBet invested in these teams isn’t clear, they did provide enough funding to become a jersey sponsor for some.

As of today, 1xBet’s branding is still visible on promotional content for OG, Team Spirit, and Tundra Esports, including their Twitter headers. Many of the teams are also still wearing jerseys with the 1xBet logo during the current season.

1xBet in 2026

Even after the legal decision, 1xBet kept running its business globally. It quickly became a leading sponsor in the esports betting industry, and this pattern of continuing operations despite challenges is common among many brands.

Since the recent ruling, 1xBet has become even more involved in esports. They currently sponsor several well-known organizations and teams like Aurora Gaming, 9z Team, and The MongolZ. Popular online personality Eva Elfie and esports host BanKs both represent the platform as brand ambassadors.

1xBet is the official sponsor for major Counter-Strike 2 tournaments, including IEM Cologne 2025 and the Austin Major. Their increasing presence in the CS2 community is due to partnerships with ESL FACEIT Group and PGL, which allow them prominent branding throughout the broadcasts, like banners and on-screen graphics.

1xBet is expanding its presence in the world of video games, now sponsoring Dota 2 through a partnership with PGL. This is the second game from Valve that 1xBet is becoming increasingly involved with.

Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends and VALORANT, has started allowing sponsorships from betting websites and online casinos for its esports teams. MIBR was the first team to partner with a betting sponsor, 1xBet, marking a new direction for Riot’s sponsorship policies.

Riot Games says any betting companies they approve must complete a thorough review process. However, teams and organizations still aren’t permitted to display betting sponsor logos on jerseys during events.

Reviewing the reported bankruptcy ruling from 2023, it appears to have had minimal impact on 1xBet’s business. The company initially refuted the reports and downplayed their importance, and continued to receive award nominations for its work in subsequent years.

Thankfully, the recent changes have helped users become more cautious on the platform, which is good news – especially when dealing with financial transactions.

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2026-02-12 16:41