Riot Lowers LEC Salary Cap to €1.65 Million for 2027

Riot Games has reduced the LEC's Sporting Financial Restrictions maximum combined salary for a team's five highest-paid players from €2 million to €1.65 million for 2027. The minimum threshold will also fall from €1 million to €825,000, and Riot plans to lower the baseline further to €1 million by 2029. The SFR, introduced in 2024, includes luxury tax and grandfathering provisions aimed at financial stability and competitive balance.

The LEC’s Sporting Financial Regulations date to the 2024 season and act as a soft cap on the five largest player salaries at each organization. The rules count wages, bonuses, and image-rights payments, while excluding personal sponsorships, prize money, and housing support. Teams that go more than 5% over the limit owe a luxury tax equal to half the excess, with proceeds shared among compliant LEC clubs and the EMEA tier-two scene.

For 2027, the ceiling falls from €2 million to €1.65 million, and the floor drops from €1 million to €825,000. Riot also intends to bring the baseline down to €1 million by 2029. A grandfathering mechanism limits how much pre-existing high salaries count, and falling below the minimum reduces Riot revenue and league participation rather than triggering a fine.

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