Streamers and Top Players in VALORANT are Victimized by Crypto Betters
In a new development, ranked matches in VALORANT have become even more unbearable for some of the game’s largest streamers and top-ranked players. It seems that players are intentionally throwing matches they have bet on using cryptocurrency.
This issue has been known for several months and is linked to websites where users can place bets on the outcome of streamers’ ranked matches. As a result, players who find themselves in a match with these streamers throw the game in order to secure their own bets, essentially engaging in match-fixing.
A tweet from FNS (@FNS) illustrates the frustration felt by players: “If there is a crypto bettor on the other team, can we all please agree to throw the game? I want them to lose every cent and be on the street begging me for a sandwich. Thanks.”
When players queue up for ranked matches and end up on the same team as a streamer, they intentionally throw the game to cash out on their bet against the streamer. Conversely, players on the opposing team may throw the match while betting on the streamer to win. These throwers engage in toxic behavior such as intentional feeding, ignoring or withholding information, purposefully missing shots, and more.
TSM Subroza (@Subroza) sums up the situation succinctly: “ACTUAL CRIMINALS.”
Well-known players like tarik, ShahZaM, FNS, TenZ, and others regularly have their ranked experience ruined by these throwers. It’s worth noting that tarik and FNS were involved in the infamous 2014 NA CS:GO match-fixing scandal, so they are all too familiar with this issue.
However, this situation is different because it involves random ranked players looking to make a quick profit from crypto betting. Their actions ruin the viewing experience for streamers and the gameplay for everyone else.
What’s the Solution?
It is unclear how this issue will be resolved. These crypto-betting sites may yield if enough prominent figures speak out against them, but that outcome seems unlikely. More probable is that Riot, the developer of VALORANT, will need to intervene and take action, similar to how it addressed Chinese gambling sites and throwers affecting professional League players in 2020.
Related keywords: VALORANT, ranked matches, crypto betting, match-fixing, streamers, top-ranked players, toxic behavior, throwers, Riot.