Three NIFL clubs will have gambling shirt sponsors in the coming season, despite public concern about gambling advertising in football.

Cliftonville, Crusaders and Glentoran will display Sean Graham Bookmakers, Boyle Sports and BetMcLean respectively.

Mr Cairns said:

Tim Cairns, a gambling policy expert at Christian charity CARE for Northern Ireland, said: “NIFL clubs that continue to take money from gambling companies are out-of-touch with the public."

“Northern Ireland has the highest rate of gambling harm in the UK. A person here is four times more likely to find themselves harmed by gambling than a person in England or the Republic of Ireland. Yet, Cliftonville, Crusaders and Glentoran will once again start the season with betting companies emblazoned across their match-day shirts.

“In the rest of the UK, debate is already taking place about the relationship between gambling and football. English Premier League teams have voluntarily agreed to drop shirt sponsorship from 2025. Whilst this action does not go far enough, no conversation whatsoever is happening in NI. Football in Northern Ireland is deafeningly silent on the scourge of gambling harm.

“Given we have the highest rate of gambling harm, professional football in NI needs to start the conversation and ask if it is right that loyal fans struggling with addiction are bombarded with gambling promotion when they attend a match? Do we really want beloved sports teams, at the heart of our cherished communities, linked to a product that harms so many families?

“In our view, it’s time for Northern Ireland’s football teams to show big betting the red card. There are many other more ethical sponsors to select for mutually beneficial partnerships".

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Data on gambling sponsors: NIFL-sponsorship-2023-24.pdf (care.org.uk)

A Savanta Poll for CARE found that two-thirds of people in NI thought there was too many gambling ads on TV during football matches, while all those who responded thought it was time for a regulator to oversee gambling adverts.

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) provides analysis of social policy from a Christian perspective. For more information, or to request an interview with a policy expert, contact: press@care.org.uk