Riot Games Removes Regional Prize Pools for Major LoL Leagues

The changes aim to strengthen long-term esports model, but impact varies across regions

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:55am

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Riot Games has decided to remove the regional prize pools for three major League of Legends esports leagues - the LEC, LCS, and LCK. The move is part of Riot's effort to modernize its esports revenue model, focusing more on a global revenue pool (GRP) that rewards performance at international events. While the changes may benefit some regions more than others, Riot believes this shift will provide a stronger, more sustainable foundation for the future of LoL esports.

Why it matters

The removal of regional prize pools is a significant shift in Riot's approach to League of Legends esports. It reflects the company's desire to move towards a more global, centralized revenue model similar to what it has implemented for VALORANT. This change will have varying impacts across different regional leagues, with some potentially benefiting from more stable team funding, while others may struggle with reduced prize pool incentives.

The details

Riot cited that the regional prize pools were relatively small compared to the overall revenue potential of League of Legends esports. By shifting to a GRP system, Riot aims to better reward top-performing teams at international events like the League of Legends World Championship. However, the changes will be felt differently across regions. For the LCS, Riot plans to invest more in bringing the league to fans through roadshows, while the LCK faces challenges with rising team salary costs. In the LEC, smaller organizations may benefit from more stable team funding, while fan-favorite teams like KOI and Karmine Corp could earn a larger share of the 15% brand-building incentive.

  • Riot Games announced the removal of regional prize pools in January 2026.

The players

Riot Games

The developer and publisher of League of Legends, the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game and one of the most successful esports titles.

Arnold Hur

The co-CEO of Gen.G, a prominent esports organization that fields teams in various games including League of Legends.

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What they’re saying

“I think Riot's cut their esports cost in the last two years by about 40%. LCK, the average team salary costs have gone up in those two years.”

— Arnold Hur, Co-CEO, Gen.G

What’s next

Riot will continue to monitor the impact of these changes on the different regional leagues, and may make further adjustments to the revenue model in the future to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of League of Legends esports.

The takeaway

Riot's decision to remove regional prize pools for the LEC, LCS, and LCK is a bold move aimed at strengthening the global revenue model for League of Legends esports. While the impact will vary across regions, the changes reflect Riot's commitment to building a more stable and sustainable esports ecosystem centered around international competition and fan engagement.