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 all gambling logos from the front of shirts after this season. The voluntary ban will not cover sleeve sponsorships or other commercial partnerships. That gap would still allow unlicensed firms to promote their brands through English football.
The government now wants to close that loophole. Ministers warned that some offshore operators follow weak regulations and fail to protect vulnerable gamblers. Officials also raised concerns about possible links to organised crime.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said it is wrong for unlicensed companies to boost their profile through major clubs. She argued that such deals could steer fans toward unsafe platforms.
Everton’s agreement with Stake.com has drawn the most attention. The deal reportedly brings in about £10m per year. Stake previously faced scrutiny over cryptocurrency betting, which UK rules prohibit. The club later told the company to stop using its branding in a high-value promotional offer.
Stake surrendered its British licence last year after a Gambling Commission investigation into social media marketing. Despite that move, it continues to sponsor Everton.
Several other sponsors entered the market through the Isle of Man firm TGP Europe. The regulator fined TGP £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures, and the company has since exited Britain. As a result, associated brands no longer hold UK licences.
A full ban would block those firms from sleeve deals and other partnerships. It would extend the coming shirt-front restriction and remove unlicensed gambling promotion from the Premier League entirely.
