Unlicensed gambling companies could lose the right to sponsor Premier League clubs under new government plans. Ministers have opened a consultation on a full ban after several high-profile controversies.
Some top-flight teams, including Everton, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, currently display brands linked to offshore casinos or bookmakers. These firms do not hold a British licence.
Clubs have already agreed to remove all gambling logos from the front of shirts after this season. The voluntary ban does not cover sleeves or other commercial deals. That gap still allows unlicensed operators to partner with clubs if they avoid UK customers.
The government now wants to close that loophole. Ministers warn that lightly regulated companies can expose vulnerable gamblers to harm. They have also raised concerns about possible links to organised crime.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said it is wrong for unlicensed firms to promote themselves through major clubs. She argued that fans could be drawn towards sites that fail to meet British standards.
Everton’s reported £10m-a-year deal with Stake has attracted the most scrutiny. The company previously held a UK licence but faced questions over cryptocurrency betting and controversial online promotions. It later surrendered its licence but kept its sponsorship.
Several other club partners entered the market through TGP Europe, a “white label” provider based in the Isle of Man. Regulators fined the company £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures. It has since withdrawn from Britain, leaving its partner brands without licences.
A total ban would stop overseas gambling firms from signing sleeve deals or other sponsorships. It would also extend the Premier League’s shirt-front restrictions into a wider legal rule.
