The desk's reader referral programme, in plain language
If a reader finds the desk useful, they can refer a friend. Both the referrer and the referred reader get one month of the desk's editorial subscription for free. The desk does not pay cash for referrals and does not share the reader's email with any third party.
How the referral programme works
In four short steps. Reader-to-reader, no cash payout.
1 · Get your referral link
Sign in to your esportsx account. Your referral link is on the account page, under "Refer a reader". The link is unique to your account and works for any reader who signs up through it within 90 days.
2 · Share the link
Share the link by email, by message, or on social media. The desk does not provide a tracking pixel, an analytics layer, or any other reader-tracking tool. The link is the only thing that identifies the referral.
3 · Your friend signs up
When a reader signs up through your link, both you and the referred reader get one month of the desk's editorial subscription for free. The free month is credited to the account within 24 hours of the sign-up.
4 · No cash payout
The desk does not pay cash for referrals. The desk does not offer a tiered bonus for multiple referrals. The desk does not run a referral leaderboard. Reader-to-reader, no gamification, no cash payout.
Reader-to-reader. One month free. No cash payout.
Get started with the desk
A reader account is free. Follow teams, save bookmarks, and opt into quiet push notifications.
Editorial coverage of competitive gaming for readers 18 and over. esportsx is an independent newsroom. We do not operate a sportsbook, take bets or sell picks. For help with problem gambling see responsible play resources.
Why the desk does not pay cash for referrals
The desk's position on cash referral fees, in plain language.
The desk does not pay cash for reader referrals. The desk does not run a tiered bonus for multiple referrals. The desk does not run a referral leaderboard. The desk's position is that cash referral fees distort the editorial incentive — once the desk is paid per referral, the desk's editorial judgement about what to publish is compromised.
The desk's one-month-free-for-both model is the cleanest way to align the reader's interest with the desk's editorial interest. A reader who refers a friend does so because the friend would find the desk useful, not because the reader is being paid to do it.
Frequently asked questions
The four questions the desk gets most often about the referral programme.
Does the referred reader need to do anything to unlock my free month?
No. The free month is credited to your account within 24 hours of the referred reader's sign-up. The referred reader also gets one month free. There is no minimum deposit, no minimum wager, and no other condition.
How many readers can I refer?
Unlimited. The desk does not cap the number of referrals. The desk also does not weight referrals by region or by activity. One free month per referral, regardless.
What if the referred reader signs up but never reads?
You still get your free month. The desk does not require the referred reader to be active. The free month is credited on sign-up, not on activity.
Can I refer myself?
No. The desk's referral system blocks self-referral. The desk also blocks referrals between accounts that share the same payment method, the same device, or the same IP address.
Why the desk does not run a referral leaderboard
The desk's position, in plain language.
Referral leaderboards are a common feature on editorial and product sites. The desk's position is that a referral leaderboard is incompatible with the desk's editorial incentive. Once the desk runs a leaderboard, the desk's editorial judgement about what to publish is potentially influenced by what the leaderboard participants want to read. The desk's readers would have to wonder whether the desk's coverage is editorial or promotional. The desk does not want its readers to have to wonder.
The desk's one-month-free-for-both model is the cleanest way to align the reader's interest with the desk's editorial interest. A reader who refers a friend does so because the friend would find the desk useful, not because the reader is being paid to do it.
When the free month is credited
A short note on timing.
The free month is credited to the referrer's account within 24 hours of the referred reader's sign-up. The free month is also credited to the referred reader's account on sign-up. The free month is added to the reader's existing subscription, not as a separate trial.
If the free month has not appeared within 24 hours, write to the desk via the contact page with the referred reader's email address. The desk will investigate and reply within two business days.