Star Ladder Names Rollbit as CS2 Major Betting Partner

StarLadder has named Rollbit as the official betting partner for the Budapest Major 2025, extending their collaboration to integrate cryptocurrency-powered wagering and analytics into the Counter-Strike 2 event. Scheduled for early 2026 in Hungary, the partnership introduces seamless crypto deposits, live odds, and data visualizations for over 500,000 expected viewers across Europe and Asia.

This alliance highlights the growing integration of blockchain technology into esports betting, enabling faster transactions and enhanced user experiences in regulated markets such as the UK and Malta. With CS2 betting volumes exceeding €1.5 billion globally in 2025, the deal positions Rollbit to capture a larger share while supporting StarLadder's prize pool expansions.

• Crypto-Enabled Markets: Rollbit provides exclusive props such as round totals and player kills, with instant settlements via Solana blockchain, reducing latency for APAC bettors.
• Analytics Integration: Real-time dashboards powered by Rollbit's tools provide predictive insights, helping operators with dynamic pricing and boosting engagement by 25% in similar activations.
• Integrity Safeguards: Partnership adheres to ESIC standards, including suspicious bet monitoring, to maintain trust in high-stakes majors.

StarLadder's selection of Rollbit underscores a strategic pivot toward decentralized finance in esports, where traditional fiat platforms face scalability hurdles amid surging volumes. The Budapest Major, featuring 24 teams and a €1.25 million prize pool, draws heavy wagering interest—CS2 events accounted for 58% of global esports handles in Q3 2025, per Abios data. Rollbit, licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, offers crypto bets without conversion fees, appealing to the 35% of European bettors who prefer digital assets.

In the UK, where the Gambling Commission oversees crypto wagering, this partnership complies with anti-money laundering directives, enabling seamless integration for operators such as Bet365 affiliates. Hungary's evolving regulations, post-2024 EU alignment, welcome such innovations, potentially increasing local tax revenues from betting by 15%. In Asian markets, including Singapore's new state-funded esports hub, Rollbit's low-fee model supports mobile-first users, with 90% of wagers made via apps.

Tournament organizers benefit from diversified revenue: Rollbit's sponsorship contributes €500,000 toward production, correlating with 20% viewership uplifts in crypto-backed events. Publishers like Valve endorse these ties, as they enhance ecosystem funding without IP risks. Bettors gain from transparent odds—Rollbit's provably fair system verifies outcomes on-chain—fostering loyalty in a sector where 40% cite trust as a retention factor.

Regulators in Brazil and Australia may reference this model for crypto guidelines, emphasizing KYC integration to curb illicit flows. As Honor of Kings shatters attendance records, blending betting with major events like Budapest accelerates professionalization and draws institutional investment. Rollbit CEO Louis Ridley commented, "This partnership elevates CS2 betting to new heights, blending speed, security, and spectacle."

The collaboration exemplifies how blockchain bridges esports and wagering, driving efficiency in €3 billion markets while prioritizing compliance. For operators, it offers a blueprint to adopt crypto without overhauling infrastructure, potentially lifting ARPU by €18 in hybrid fiat-crypto portfolios. As majors evolve, such deals solidify esports as a mature asset class, attracting funds eyeing 25% CAGR through 2030.

Sources: Esports Insider