Where esports succeeds, it still struggles: Lifting the lid on NLC payment struggles after record-breaking 2025 season
The NLC fills a crucial regional role in the League of Legends ecosystem, and is currently beginning its 2026 season. Following a record-breaking 2025 season, expectations are high that the regional league will continue entertaining audiences.
However, the league has also allegedly found itself embroiled in the esports industry’s most common issue: late payments. What is the impact of the NLC’s alleged payment issues, and how might esports’ financial squeeze affect 2026?
NLC faces allegations of delayed payments and missing late payment fees
NLC’s 2025 season concluded with historic records in its wake. This included becoming Europe’s most popular League of Legends circuit, with 3 million hours watched in the Spring circuit.
However, the cost of these historic records appears to have weighed heavily on its owners, LeaguesGG.
ENUK first received reports of delays in fulfilling contractually obligated payments in October 2025, after the contractually agreed 30-day payment terms had expired.
Contracts allegedly stated that “The Contractor shall submit an invoice within 5 days of completing the Services. The company shall pay valid invoices within 30 days of receipt.”
However, outstanding payments extended into the October to November period, with most invoices having been submitted around September 7th.
Those affected also allegedly struggled to communicate with LeaguesGG about their outstanding payments.
Some individuals stated at the end of October that they had not received direct communication since their invoices and payment details were sent in early September. This is despite said individuals allegedly sending regular follow-up emails.
Sources have informed ENUK that more than one invoice was left unpaid into January 2026.
LeaguesGG operates out of Denmark, but hired several individuals from the UK to bring its NLC vision to fruition.
In both the UK and Denmark, the law allows the party owed payment to add late payment fees and/or statutory interest to the delayed amount.
Several individuals who have now received a payment relayed to ENUK that, although the original invoice amount had been paid, the late payment fees had not.
The NLC responds to delayed payment allegations
ENUK reached out to the NLC regarding the outstanding payments owed to those who worked on the 2025 season.
They have stated their intention to provide an official statement, but have not done so by the time of publishing.
What could be behind the NLC’s payment issues?
The esports industry shoulders a high cost-to-success ratio. Running LAN events, maintaining professional broadcasts, and funding prize pools build a challenging ladder for companies to successfully scale.
Alongside the existing pressure from audiences, esports tournament organisers also often face pressure from investors.
Combining both can often lead to an overextension of resources to fulfil both sets of demands.
The NLC’s Summer Finals included a half-time show featuring South Korean K-Pop band Primrose performing, and took place at Leagues Disrupt with a large in-person audience. Even from an outside perspective, it appeared an expensive endeavour.
This conundrum is far from unknown within esports.
For example, in August 2025, Counter-Strike tournament organisers YaLLa Esports abruptly ceased operations. Unfortunately, the company’s closure left several staff and freelancers unpaid.
Meanwhile, fellow Counter-Strike tournament organiser MESA also faced allegations of significant late payments totalling approximately $200,000.
The organisation was also reprimanded by Valve for requesting a tournament registration fee, which appeared to be an attempt to increase event revenue and breached the Valve Tournament Operation Requirement.
Unlike these two examples, the NLC has successfully continued its operations and claims to be actively resolving its delayed payment issues.
However, the issues pressuring tournament organisers remain prevalent.
How is the NLC potentially moving forward with resolving these issues?
The NLC 2026 relaunch adopts a new format that targets content creators to drive interest, building on the success brought by the inclusion of Los Ratones.
Additionally, the NLC will draw on the status of higher-tier circuits. The introduction of “WildCards” will see teams have “the option to swap in a true legend with experience from one of the top-LoL leagues.”
Although it is encouraging to see a path forward mapped for the league, it does not negate the fact that such elongated payment delays indicate potential cracks in the NLC’s foundations.
Previous NLC workers appear to be expressing implied discontent or pessimism regarding the circuit’s future online.
Meanwhile, the loss of Los Ratones to other ventures could lead to the departure of some viewers who were more intent on following Caedrel’s team than the NLC itself.
While efforts are clearly being made to improve on the payment issues felt so deeply by workers after the 2025 season, the future remains on a knife-edge for a regional league that might be hanging in the balance.
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