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 unlicensed online casinos or bookmakers. Clubs have already agreed to remove all front-of-shirt gambling sponsors after this season. That voluntary move will not cover sleeve deals or other partnerships.
The proposed ban would close that loophole. It would stop overseas operators without a British licence from using club sponsorships to raise their profile.
The government warned that some unlicensed firms operate under weak safeguards. Ministers also raised concerns about links to organised crime and poor protection for vulnerable gamblers.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said major clubs should not promote companies that fail to meet UK regulatory standards. She argued that these deals could direct fans toward unsafe betting sites.
Everton’s partnership with Stake has drawn the most scrutiny. The agreement is reportedly worth £10m a year. The company faced questions in 2022 over cryptocurrency betting while it still held a UK licence. The club later told Stake to remove its branding from a high-value betting promotion.
Stake surrendered its British licence last year during a Gambling Commission investigation into its marketing activity. Despite that, it continues to sponsor Everton.
Many of the affected firms operated through TGP Europe, an Isle of Man-based white-label provider. The company allowed overseas brands to secure UK sponsorships. Regulators fined TGP £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures, and it has since left the British market.
Its exit means several club sponsors no longer hold a licence in Great Britain. A full ban would block those companies from sleeve deals and other commercial links that remain legal under the current voluntary rules.
