Rollbit Named Exclusive Betting Partner for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

Rollbit has been announced as the exclusive betting partner for the upcoming CS2 StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, expanding a collaboration that originally began with StarSeries 19 earlier this year.

Rollbit Expands Its Role in CS2 Esports

The agreement between StarLadder and Rollbit includes several major components aimed at enhancing the viewing and fan experience during the Major:

Crypto-powered betting hub: Rollbit will offer comprehensive betting markets for the tournament, supporting various major cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, DOGE, and LTC.

Advanced live analytics: Fans will gain access to expanded real-time match analytics designed to make live betting more interactive and engaging.

Fan engagement tools: Rollbit is also planning leaderboards, social trade and bet-sharing features, and exclusive promotional campaigns tied to the event.

Sam Norman, Head of Partnerships at Rollbit, said the company is “thrilled to continue” working with StarLadder for the Budapest Major, emphasizing that Counter-Strike remains central to Rollbit’s brand. He noted that the partnership aims to bring fans “closer to the action” through improved analytics and seamless crypto integrations.

Rollbit’s Push Into Esports Integrity and Sponsorships

Rollbit’s presence in esports has grown significantly throughout the year.

In November, Rollbit became a Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), providing operational support and data to help identify suspicious betting activity. The move strengthens global efforts to combat match-fixing and enhance fairness across esports.

Rollbit also recently expanded its sponsorship of FaZe Clan’s CS2 roster, raising the contract value to an estimated $3.25 million per year and extending its branding across team jerseys.

Despite this expansion, Rollbit’s services still remain unavailable in many countries — including Hungary, the host nation of the Major — highlighting ongoing regulatory challenges for crypto-gambling platforms.

Budapest Major 2025: Structure, Venues, and Milestones

The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 will serve as the second Counter-Strike 2 Major of the year and the fourth CS2 Major overall. The tournament runs from November 24 to December 14, 2025, features 32 invited teams, and provides a $1.25 million prize pool.

Tournament Format

Three Swiss stages with 16 teams each (Stages 1–3)

8-team single-elimination playoffs

Event Venues

Stages 1–3: MTK Sportpark (approx. 2,000 seats)

Playoffs: MVM Dome (approx. 20,000 seats, full 360° setup with major production elements)

A significant milestone for the event is the first-ever best-of-five Major grand final, something the CS community has been requesting for years.

StarLadder CEO Roman Romantsov described hosting another Major as “an incredible honor,” adding that Budapest offers a perfect stage to “push the boundaries of what a live CS2 event can look and feel like.”

Commercial Partners Joining the Major

Alongside Rollbit, several partners will support the event:

Blacklyte – Official furniture partner providing desks and chairs for the stage setup. CEO Alex Liu highlighted the importance of comfort and stability in high-pressure matches.

CORSAIR & ZOWIE – Official hardware and monitor partners for the tournament.

Esports Charts – Official analytics partner responsible for tracking viewership data, crucial as StarLadder aims to surpass the 1.7 million peak viewer record set earlier in the year.

Controversy Around Betting Logos and Stickers

The Rollbit partnership coincides with renewed community debates over gambling branding in CS2 — particularly regarding the Budapest 2025 sticker collection.

Just before the Major, Valve updated the Imperial Esports sticker, removing the Gamdom sponsor logo following criticism from fans and replacing it with the team’s standard emblem.

Meanwhile, several players publicly reported that Valve rejected their hand-drawn autograph stickers without explanation and without the option to resubmit. Among those affected were:

Fritz “slaxz-” Dietrich

Aran “Sonic” Groesbeek

Danyyl “headtr1ck” Valitov

Players stressed that autograph stickers are an important source of income — especially for lesser-known pros — making these decisions financially significant.

Player and Talent Reactions Ahead of the Major

Although players have not yet commented directly on the Rollbit deal, excitement for the Budapest Major is growing:

Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás of MOUZ said he is “really excited about the Budapest Major,” calling it a huge moment for both Hungarian esports and his personal career.

Veteran coach Luis “peacemaker” Tadeu predicted that Team Vitality could enter the Major as the strongest contender, praising their consistent form and tactical structure.

Many community members see the BO5 grand final in a packed 20,000-seat arena as a defining “cinema moment” for CS2.

Industry Trend: Betting Brands Re-enter Esports

Across the esports landscape, betting partnerships are becoming more visible again:

Major leagues in titles like League of Legends and VALORANT have started allowing top teams to sign betting sponsors in select regions.

Analysts note that while traditional sports are moving away from front-of-shirt gambling sponsors, esports is still exploring where the boundaries should be.

At the same time, concerns about gambling influence — from sticker sponsorship disputes to high-profile influencer betting controversies — continue to fuel debates about integrity and player protection.