Unlicensed gambling companies could lose the right to sponsor Premier League clubs under new government plans. Ministers have opened 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 sponsors from the front of shirts after this season. The voluntary ban will not cover sleeves or other commercial partnerships.
This gap allows overseas operators to keep using Premier League exposure if they avoid British customers. The government now wants to close that route completely. Ministers warned that some firms operate under weak regulation and may expose vulnerable gamblers to harm. They also raised concerns about possible links to organised crime.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said unlicensed companies should not promote themselves through major clubs. She argued that such deals boost the profile of sites that fail to meet UK standards.
Everton’s partnership with Stake has drawn the most scrutiny. The agreement is reportedly worth £10m a year. The company previously faced criticism over cryptocurrency betting and controversial online promotions. It later surrendered its British licence but continues to sponsor the club.
Many of these sponsorships relied on the Isle of Man firm TGP Europe. The company provided a “white label” route into the UK market for brands targeting overseas users. Regulators fined TGP £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures and weak checks on partners. It has since withdrawn from Britain.
As a result, several club sponsors no longer hold a UK licence. A full ban would block them from sleeve deals and other marketing links.
