The UK government has confirmed plans to ban unlicensed casinos from sponsoring sports teams, a move that could affect Premier League clubs such as Everton FC and sports like Formula One. The ban, revealed by the Guardian on Sunday and confirmed by ministers on Wednesday, aims to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce the risk of sport being used for money laundering by organised crime groups.
Details of the Proposed Ban
An eight-week consultation has been launched, with the ban potentially coming into force as early as August 2027. It would cover logos on kits, stadium infrastructure, and pitch-side hoardings. Currently, sports teams can accept sponsorship from gambling companies without a Gambling Commission licence if those companies do not accept bets from British consumers. However, the government is concerned that UK residents are accessing unlicensed sites via virtual private networks after being attracted by football-related advertising.
Under the new proposals, such commercial deals would become a criminal offence. One notable example is Everton FC's sleeve sponsorship with Stake.com, a crypto casino without a licence to serve customers in Great Britain. The deal, signed in June and worth at least £10 million, runs until the end of the 2028-29 season. Everton pursued the agreement despite a government warning in February about a potential crackdown.
Impact on Sports Clubs
The government stated the ban would take effect no later than August 2028, potentially a year earlier, meaning Everton could lose at least one year of the contract. Gambling Minister Fiona Twycross said, "We believe that, although most sectors and sports will be unaffected, some sports or clubs will be impacted." The ban is separate from the Premier League's voluntary decision to stop advertising gambling on the front of match-day kits from the 2026-27 season.
Other Premier League clubs with unlicensed gambling partners include Chelsea and Ipswich (both 8Xbet) and Fulham (SBOTOP). Multiple lower-league clubs have similar deals. Formula One could also be affected, as Stake.com previously sponsored the Sauber team. Future deals might require teams to remove gambling sponsor decals for the British Grand Prix. The World Snooker Tour is sponsored by Sportsbet.io, which also lacks a UK licence.
Scope and Exemptions
The proposed ban does not cover online partnerships, which would require separate legislation, though the government said it would consider this if necessary. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by any of the betting companies named. The Guardian has contacted the affected clubs and organisations for comment.
