Gamban becomes main sponsor of Danish esports team
Summary
Danish Counter-Strike 2 team ECSTATIC has named Gamban as its main sponsor in what is reported to be the sport’s first harm-prevention sponsorship deal. The team deliberately rejected an offshore casino sponsor and will work with Gamban to create a Discord community hub offering anonymous peer groups, expert talks and practical tools for people wanting to pause or stop gambling.
Gamban, which provides software to block gambling sites and apps, said the partnership aims to make help more accessible and stigma-free for young fans, and to demonstrate that non-gambling sponsors can succeed in esports. ECSTATIC co-founder Oliver “zipeL” Behrensdorff spoke about his personal experience with gambling and how Gamban helped him start to change his behaviour. Gamban co-founder Matt Zarb-Cousin highlighted the dominance of gambling sponsors in esports—noting that around 80% of the top 50 CS2 teams have gambling backers—and said the deal could inspire alternative sponsorships.
Key Points
- ECSTATIC has appointed Gamban as its main sponsor in a first-of-its-kind harm-prevention sponsorship for professional esports.
- The team rejected an offshore casino sponsor and will instead launch a community Discord hub to support those affected by gambling harm.
- Gamban will provide anonymous peer support, expert talks and practical tools to help people pause or stop gambling.
- The partnership aims to make support less stigmatising for younger fans who may not fit into traditional help groups.
- Gamban hopes the deal proves non-gambling sponsors can thrive in esports and will encourage mainstream brands to invest in the space.
- ECSTATIC founders cited personal experience with gambling harm as part of the motivation for choosing Gamban.
Why should I read this
Short and sharp: esports is drowning in gambling ads, and this deal actually flips the script. If you care about brand safety, audience wellbeing or the future of sponsorships in gaming, this shows a real alternative is possible — plus it comes with practical support for fans, not just logo swaps.
Source
Source: https://next.io/news/marketing/gamban-main-sponsor-danish-esports-team/