Investor or sponsor? Looking for funding for game prizes – which fits?

Building a project with web games and tournaments. Players compete, win credits, spend them on real ad space inside the platform. Working economy, no marketing budget yet.

I want to add cash prizes for top players – small at first, growing if it works. The amount needed is operational, not strategic. A few hundred dollars covers the first round of prizes and tells me whether real money changes player behavior.

The question: is this an investor conversation or a sponsor conversation? Investors want equity and returns. Sponsors want exposure. My need is closer to sponsor territory – but I'm new to both sides and might be missing the better frame.

How do experienced founders decide which route to take when the funding need is small and operational rather than growth capital? Anyone here funded prize pools or competitive features through sponsorship who can share what worked?