Crack down on sports sponsorship by unlicensed gambling firms

The government have announced plans to consult about a ban on unlicensed gambling operators sponsoring British sports teams, including the Premier League. This forms part of a move to crack down on illegal gambling and the risks of unlicensed firms being linked with organised crime.

The government have raised concerns about the dangers of unlicensed gambling operators in the UK. Some unlicensed betting has been linked with organised crime, and unlicensed operators do not conform to current guidelines, such as financial vulnerability checks, responsible advertising, and fair practices.

Last year, the Premier League voluntarily committed to removing all gambling advertising from the front of shirts by the end of the 2025-2026 season. However, gambling companies can still advertise on shirt sleeves, including those who are unlicensed. While the clubs are not acting illegally in striking these deals, the new proposals would prevent unlicensed sponsorship.

Last year, a number of clubs, including those in the Premier League such as Bournemouth, Fulham and Newcastle, were warned by the Gambling Commission about their relationship with TGP Europe. The company had surrendered its licence in Britain after it was found to have failed to carry out sufficient checks on business partners” and breached “anti-money laundering rules”. The Commission warned the clubs that they “may be liable to prosecution… if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses”.

The new measures would ban unlicensed gambling operators from entering into sponsorship arrangements with any sports clubs. The consultation will be launched later in the spring.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, said that “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 consultation announced will also be accompanied by a new taskforce, led by Baroness Twycross, the Gambling Minister. The taskforce will focus on preventing illegal operators advertising on social media, stopping payments to unlicensed sites, and improving collaboration across different agencies.

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