premier League Confirms Gambling Sponsorship Ban
The Premier League has banned gambling-related front-of-shirt sponsorship deals.
The news follows months of criticism over the high number of Premier League clubs that promote betting companies on their first-team kits.
Rumours around government intervention have circled for years, but it is the Premier League itself that has decided to introduce the ban, which will commence at the end of the 2025/26 season.
The decision was collectively agreed by the 20 Premier League clubs after a consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which had been part of a government review of current gambling legislation.
There are currently eight Premier League clubs with gambling companies as front-of-shirt sponsors, with an estimated value of £60m each year.
• Bournemouth – Dafabet (online bookmaker)
• Brentford – Hollywoodbets (online gambling firm)
• Everton – Stake (online crypto casino and sports betting platform)
• Fulham – W88 (betting firm)
• Leeds – SBOTOP (sports betting firm)
• Newcastle – Fun88 (online sportsbook and casino)
• Southampton – Sportsbet (online gambling company)
• West Ham – Betway (online gambling firm)
In light of the ban, all eight of the clubs will have to source new sponsors within the next three years.
However, clubs will continue to be able to feature gambling brands in other areas, including shirt sleeves, in-stadium LED advertising and digitally.
Commenting on the move, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, tweeted, “While the vast majority of adults enjoy gambling without harm, we can’t ignore the fact footballers are massive role models to kids.
“Our upcoming Gambling White Paper will upgrade punter protections & do more to protect those at risk of addiction.”
Last year, Sport Industry Group Partner InsightX took a deeper look at shirt sponsorship in the Premier League, highlighting the rise in gambling partnerships in recent years.
