Unlicensed gambling companies could lose the right to sponsor Premier League clubs under new government plans. Ministers launched a consultation after a series of controversies and regulatory concerns.
Several top-flight teams, including Everton, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, currently display brands linked to online casinos or bookmakers without a British licence.
Clubs have already agreed to remove gambling logos from the front of shirts after this season. That voluntary move will not cover sleeve deals or other partnerships. Unlicensed firms could still secure those agreements if rules remain unchanged.
The government wants to close that gap. Ministers warned that some offshore operators follow weak regulations and fail to protect vulnerable gamblers. They also cited alleged links to organised crime.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said major clubs should not promote companies that fall outside British standards. She argued that such exposure could steer fans toward unsafe betting platforms.
Everton’s partnership with Stake.com has drawn the most scrutiny. The deal is reportedly worth £10m per year. The company faced criticism in 2022 over the use of cryptocurrency for betting while it held a UK licence.
Everton later asked the firm to remove club branding from a high-value betting promotion because of problem-gambling concerns. Stake surrendered its British licence last year after a Gambling Commission investigation into its marketing activity. It still sponsors the club.
Many of these firms entered the market through the Isle of Man-based provider TGP Europe. Regulators fined TGP £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures. The company has since exited Great Britain.
As a result, several current sponsors no longer hold a UK licence. A full ban would block them from sleeve deals and other commercial links with Premier League clubs.
