ExpressVPN, the global leader in consumer privacy and security, has announced a new partnership with video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organiser, Riot Games.

As a Summer Split Partner, ExpressVPN will sponsor the championship series taking place from August – September, culminating in this year’s League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) taking place at the Caja Mágica in Madrid. From September 26 to 28, the last standing and best teams from the Summer Split will battle in front of over 10,000 in-person spectators for the Summer Split Champion title and a chance to qualify for the 2025 World Championships – one of the most iconic esports competitions in the world.

Riot Games players will have access to a free 14-day trial of ExpressVPN, empowering gamers with advanced digital privacy and security. League of Legends players will also unlock Hextech Chests when they subscribe to ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN works with all major gaming consoles, enabling gamers to protect their digital privacy and giving them access to a global network of server locations. ExpressVPN’s custom-built Lightway protocol is built with speed and performance in mind—ensuring protection against DDoS attacks and ISP throttling while allowing gamers to enjoy a fast and secure connection that helps them stay competitive.

Riot Games is one of the world’s leading video game developers and publishers, with its flagship game, League of Legends. The company also organises major esports Championships such as the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and World Championship.

Zac Eller, GM of Global Partnerships & Business Development at ExpressVPN, said: “For today’s gamers, privacy and performance go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s protecting against DDoS attacks, reducing ping, or unlocking global content, we’re here to help players compete at their best. Riot Games has built a world-class esports ecosystem, and we’re proud to work with them to ensure gamers have the tools they need to stay safe and secure online while supporting the League of Legends community.”

Charlie Allen, EMEA Director of Commercial Partnerships & Biz Dev at Riot Games, said: We’re always looking to collaborate with partners who understand our community and what matters to them. ExpressVPN gets that League of Legends and the LEC aren’t just about gameplay and high stakes, they’re about trust, stability, and showing up in the right way. This partnership isn’t just a logo on a screen; it’s about adding that final layer to elevate the fan experience, connecting two worlds in a way that feels natural and earned – it directly supports our community by helping protect their internet connection and security. Whether you’re grinding ranked, co-streaming the LEC, or traveling to a live event like the Summer Finals in Madrid, digital security matters. It’s a collaboration built not just around shared audiences, but shared values.”

The world’s number one crash game gets even more thrilling with the addition of Missions, Races and Tournaments

SPRIBE, the award-winning developer behind the original crash game, Aviator, has added another tool to the box with the launch of Challenges, bringing even more excitement, entertainment and competition to the experience.

Aviator Challenges allows operators to launch Missions, Races and Tournaments, forging an additional competitive layer and even more social interaction, while providing a fresh way for players to engage with the game, which is now played by more than 60 million people per month.

Missions see players complete a task before a set deadline, while Races are similar but with a limited prize pool up for grabs, creating a strong sense of FOMO while helping operators control promo budgets. Tournaments then take the classic and well-loved format.

SPRIBE gives operators full control over creating and running Aviator Challenges, and they can choose the type, timing, prize, names, descriptions, colours, and tasks for deep personalisation and granular localisation.

Aviator Challenges has debuted with operators in Africa and will be rolled out globally over the coming weeks and months. This will be followed by the launch of regional tournaments, which again will debut in Africa before being made available internationally.

The launch of Challenges will drive even greater engagement with Aviator, which currently sees players place more than 400,000 bets per minute across 5,500+ online casinos and sportsbooks worldwide.

Giorgi Tsutskiridze, CCO at SPRIBE, said: “Challenges take the Aviator experience to a whole other level for both players and operators.

“Those that have already embraced Challenges have seen an immediate, positive impact on player behaviour across core KPIs such as retention and bet numbers per player.

“To get the most out of Challenges, operators do need to be creative, especially when it comes to marketing support, segmentation, prize zones, rewards and tasks.

“But we have ensured Challenges have the flexibility to do this and a whole lot more.

“Aviator is already the number one crash game in the world with more than 60 million players a month, but with Challenges, we expect that number to climb ever higher.”