Half Premier League clubs face losing lucrative deals if unlicensed gambling banned
Ten of the top-flight clubs now have contracts with unlicensed operators. The government is currently consulting on banning these non-UK licensed betting firms.
Premier League clubs face significant financial risk if new regulations ban sponsorship from gambling firms lacking UK licenses. Half of the league's twenty-member clubs hold contracts with unlicensed operators, according to analysis by the Guardian. These commercial agreements could become illegal under plans developed by the government and currently being tested in an eight-week consultation period. The consultation closes on Wednesday. While some entities like Ladbrokes and William Hill are licensed, betting companies based primarily in Asia or other jurisdictions remain a target. Licensed firms such as 8XBet operate from the Caribbean island of Curaçao but currently lack domestic status. The number of top clubs with commercial relationships involving non-UK operators rose from six to ten over the summer season. This increase occurred despite a voluntary ban on front-of-shirt sponsorship for gambling companies this season. Everton recently secured a new three-year sleeve deal with Stake.com, a crypto casino. Fulham transferred its association with SBOTOP from player shirts to training kits. Eight other clubs, including Chelsea and Tottenham, maintain perimeter advertising or player branding with unlicensed operators. The league argues that these Asian-facing betting services are effectively unavailable within the UK due to licensing restrictions.
