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 front-of-shirt gambling sponsors after this season. The voluntary ban will not cover sleeve deals or other partnerships.
This gap would still allow overseas operators to promote their brands through English football if they avoid UK customers. The government now wants to close that route completely.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said unlicensed firms should not raise their profile through major clubs. She warned that some operate with weak safeguards for vulnerable gamblers and possible links to organised crime.
Everton’s agreement with Stake.com has drawn the most scrutiny. The deal reportedly brings in £10m a year. The company faced questions in 2022 over the use of cryptocurrency for betting while it held a UK licence. The club later told Stake to remove its branding from a high-value promotional offer.
Stake surrendered its licence last year during a Gambling Commission investigation into its marketing activity. Despite that decision, it continues to sponsor Everton.
Many of these firms entered the market through TGP Europe, a white-label provider based in the Isle of Man. The company enabled sponsorships for operators focused on overseas users. Regulators fined TGP £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures and weak checks on partners. It has since exited the British market.
As a result, several current sponsors no longer hold a licence in Great Britain. A full ban would block them from sleeve sponsorships and all other commercial links with Premier League clubs.
