On Friday 12th September 2025 a sponsorship deal was announced and it’s not one that is the norm in esports. Ecstatic, a professional Counter strike 2 team decided against partnering with casinos not on Gamban and went with Gamban itself, an organization that helps people overcome gambling addiction. As part of the deal Ecstatic will launch a community hub designed to help those struggling with harm brought on from gambling harm.
An estimated 80% of top 50 CS2 teams have betting platforms as sponsors but the teams co-founders Oliver “zipeL” Behrensdorff and Jeppe “sneppen” Taggatz Jensen described the move as bold stance rejecting the gambling industry in favour of a harm-reduction sponsor.
The gambling harm organisations co-found Matt Zarb-Cousin has welcomed the deal stating that for the past decade Gamban has built tools that block access to gambling sites and apps which in turn offers a lifeline for those that are starting recovery. According to Zarb-Cousin this is a firm stance which shows that esports doesn’t need to lean to addiction to grow.
The partnership will bring in a Discord hub which allows fans to find peer groups and practical resources for cutting back gambling together anonymously. Gamban promotes the goal is to make help easily accessible and free from stigma for younger audiences who might feel uncomfortable in traditional support groups.
The bigger picture in this deal is to show that non gambling sponsors can succeed in esports which could open the door to hesitating brands into the sport.
For Behrensdorff, one of the co-founders of the team, it is deeply personal stating that Gamban helped him overcome gambling addiction in the past. His words carry weight. “We’re not here to judge anyone. We’re here to provide a lifeline.”
From an outsider’s perspective the move from Ecstatic feels refreshing and long overdue. Esports has grown massively and with gambling sponsors having cast a shadow over the industry in one which has many fans that are teenagers or young adults. This age group is the exact age range of people that are most vulnerable to addiction. Ecstatic is proving that teams don’t need to forfeit their values to stay financially stable.
Having said that, one team’s stance won’t change the gambling industry’s grip on eSports sponsorships but it certainly is making a stance. If Ecstatic can thrive with a harm reduction sponsor it could make others follow suit and in turn be taken more seriously as a mainstream industry.