UK government considers banning black market gambling sites from sports sponsorships

The UK government could ban unlicensed gambling operators from sponsoring sports teams altogether.

Ministers are currently discussing whether their logos should be removed from team shirts entirely as part of a wider crackdown on black market sites.

The Premier League had already pledged to stop clubs from having betting firms front-and-centre on their kits from next season onwards. This proposal would go one step further and also block smaller advertising spots – such as the sleeves – from being sold to unregulated brands. 

Ministers say that illegal platforms have been linked to organised crime and fail to protect customers from fraud and identity theft. They also tend to lack mandatory vulnerability checks. 

Under the new measures being mulled over, any gambling company wanting their logo to appear on the kit of a British or Northern Irish club will need a UK licence. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “When placing a bet on the big match, fans deserve to know the sites they’re using are properly regulated, with the right protections in place.”

“It’s not right that unlicensed gambling operators can sponsor some of our biggest football clubs, raising their profile and potentially drawing fans towards sites that don’t meet our regulatory standards.”

The current state of play

Eleven of the 20 Premier League clubs have had a betting firm front-and-centre on their kits this season. Those 11 will have to score new deals in the summer. There is currently nothing stopping the thousands of clubs outside the top flight from partnering with gambling companies – licensed or not. Clubs can also feature them elsewhere on their shirts or shorts.

While the government made it clear that this type of advertising is above board, ministers are concerned that, by having such visibility in the most high-profile sports league in the country, these unlicensed operators are driving punters away from more legitimate sites.

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross said: “We know the real harm that unregulated gambling can cause, exploiting vulnerable people and leaving consumers without the protections they deserve.”

Government crackdown a win for licensed operators

The consultation is part of the government’s wider efforts to tackle black market gambling. Last month, the Illegal Gambling Taskforce was launched to prevent illegal operators from advertising on social media, as well as blocking payments to those sites.

Baroness Twycross added: “This consultation, alongside the work of our Illegal Gambling Taskforce, shows how seriously this government is taking the issue. We will not hesitate to act where we see people being put at risk.”

Meanwhile, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) welcomed the proposal. They wrote on their LinkedIn account: “Licensed members of the Betting and Gaming Council follow strict rules on consumer protection, safer gambling and financial safeguards. Unlicensed operators don’t – fuelling the harmful black market and putting consumers at risk,”  the trade body said.

“We support action that protects fans, upholds standards and ensures football sponsorship is built on responsibility and proper regulation.”

About the author

Nathan Hill

Nathan Hill is an experienced sports writer who obsessively follows football – both the round ball and American kind – as well as range of other sports including F1, basketball, darts and snooker.