Clubs including Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been criticised for doing deals with unlicensed gambling firms as the government continues a consultation on banning such organisations from sponsoring sport.
Chelsea and Spurs are two of 11 Premier League clubs which hold agreements with betting companies not licensed in the UK. Others include Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
The consultation is gauging the possibility of banning any unlicensed firm from sponsoring a sports team, and established betting group Entain – which runs the likes of Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM – has called for an immediate ban.
“Premier League clubs that have struck new deals with unlicensed gambling operators knew the risks,” the firm’s chief executive Stella David said.
“The Government made clear in February that it would bring in a ban and it should do so immediately: even if that means clubs ordering new kit mid-season. Inconvenience is not an excuse for inaction.”
Unlicensed gambling dominating
It comes in the first season since Premier League clubs adopted a voluntary ban on any gambling brands – licensed or unlicensed – being their main, front-of-shirt sponsor.
Around £17bn was wagered on unlicensed gambling platforms in the UK last year, with that figure expected to grow to beyond £30bn by 2028, according to some studies.
Chelsea are one of five Premier League clubs to have agreed a sponsorship deal with 8XBet, alongside Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Everton’s deal with Stake has already come under fire by campaigners, while Spurs have a partnership with VSBet, Nottingham Forest with FUN88 and Crystal Palace with Chexx.bet.
Last week Sunderland announced a deal with Curacao-based Shuffle, and Fulham have an agreement with SBOTOP.
Entain argues that the agreements between Premier League clubs and unlicensed gambling firms has unmatched reach due to their appearance on live television and highlights shows such as Match of the Day.
“Under current legislation,” the consultation states, “businesses are able to enter into advertising and sponsorship arrangements with gambling operators which are not licensed by the Gambling Commission, so long as those operators’ services cannot be accessed by consumers in Great Britain.
“Unlicensed operators prevent access to their services by geo-blocking their websites. However, this can be circumvented by consumers using a virtual private network.
“We want to change this. The current legislation undermines the gambling licensing and advertising regulatory frameworks, which aim to protect consumers in Great Britain and reduce the risk of money-laundering and crime.”