Team Vitality announced a multi-year sponsorship deal with Stake on July 25. The agreement makes Stake the official international betting partner for Vitality’s Counter-Strike 2 roster.
Stake operates online casino and sportsbook services globally. The company sponsors teams across Formula 1, mixed martial arts, and football.
Team Vitality’s CS2 team won the ESL Grand Slam and Blast Austin Major in recent months. The roster currently competes at the top level of professional Counter-Strike.
The companies revealed their partnership at IEM Cologne 2025. Team Vitality won the 2024 edition of this tournament.
Last year’s IEM Cologne attracted over one million viewers. This made it the second most-watched Counter-Strike event in 2024.
The tournament timing provides Stake with exposure during a major competition. Vitality will wear Stake-branded jerseys throughout the event.
Esports sponsorships have grown as traditional sports brands enter the market. The deal reflects this broader trend in competitive gaming.
Stake’s branding will appear on two jersey locations. The logo goes on the front and left collarbone of the team uniforms.
The partnership includes digital marketing activations. Stake will have placement across Vitality’s social media channels and content campaigns.
Both organisations plan to create joint content. Fans will get access to exclusive player content throughout the partnership term.
The deal covers Vitality’s participation in international tournaments. Stake will support the team during major competitive events.
Financial terms weren’t fully disclosed. The companies described it as a seven-figure agreement.
Vas Roberts, Team Vitality’s co-CEO, called the partnership significant for the organisation’s growth. “It reflects the success of our ambition to establish Team Vitality as a leading global esports brand,” Roberts said.
The deal positions Vitality alongside traditional sports properties in Stake’s sponsorship portfolio. This represents expansion beyond conventional sports partnerships.
Akhil Sarin, Stake’s Chief Marketing Officer, stated that the agreement incorporates esports into the company’s partnership strategy. “Team Vitality represents exactly the calibre of world-class partner we seek as we enter the esports arena,” Sarin stated.
The partnership begins immediately with the IEM Cologne tournament. Team Vitality will debut the new Stake-branded jerseys during competition.
This marks Stake’s entry into Counter-Strike sponsorship. The platform joins other betting companies that have invested in esports partnerships.
The multi-year term suggests both companies view esports as a long-term marketing opportunity. Financial details beyond the seven-figure valuation weren’t disclosed.
Both organisations plan additional activations throughout the partnership duration. The content creation and fan access elements will develop over the coming months.
In April 2025, Stake introduced ‘Stake Engine’, a new platform for game developers to create iGaming titles. The platform aims to provide developers with a straightforward revenue model that offers 10% GGR royalties paid monthly.
