The UK government announced on Monday a consultation into banning sponsorships of UK sports teams by unlicensed gambling operators, a move prompted by concerns over consumer protection and links to organised crime. The consultation follows a recent string of controversies involving companies operating without a British gambling license, several of which currently sponsor Premier League football clubs.
Currently, Everton, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers are among the clubs featuring the logos of unlicensed online casinos or bookmakers on their shirts, according to reports. Stake.com, Everton’s shirt sponsor, relinquished its UK gambling license last year but continues to financially support the club. Bournemouth, Fulham, Burnley and Wolves all have main shirt sponsorships with betting websites owned by TGP Europe, which lost its British license after failing to meet anti-money laundering regulations.
While the Premier League has already agreed to end all front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships from the end of the current season, the government’s proposed ban would extend beyond the front of shirts, encompassing sleeve sponsorships and other commercial arrangements. This broader approach aims to close loopholes that would allow unlicensed operators to maintain a presence in the league through alternative branding opportunities.
UK culture minister Lisa Nandy stated that fans “deserve to know the sites they’re using are properly regulated, with the right protections in place,” and that This proves “not right that unlicensed gambling operators can sponsor some of our biggest football clubs.” The government’s concerns center on the lack of adherence to regulations designed to protect vulnerable gamblers, including financial vulnerability checks and data protection measures.
The Betting and Gaming Council, the industry body for betting operators, voiced support for the government’s consultation, stating via X (formerly Twitter) that any operator seeking the “visibility and credibility of English football” should meet the UK’s high regulatory standards.
The move comes as Everton Football Club recently had proceedings discontinued regarding a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. An independent commission initially imposed a two-point deduction for a £16.6 million breach, but the Premier League Board ultimately decided not to pursue a second part of the case concerning the treatment of interest payments related to the club’s fresh stadium. The League and the Club have agreed that this concludes all proceedings related to breaches of the PSR for the financial years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023.
The government consultation will seek views on the scope and implementation of a potential ban, with no timeline yet established for a final decision.
