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 involving major teams.
Several clubs, including Everton, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, currently display brands linked to online casinos or bookmakers without British licences. The Premier League has already agreed to remove gambling sponsors from the front of shirts after this season. The voluntary ban will not cover sleeves or other commercial partnerships.
This gap allows offshore operators to maintain high-profile deals if they avoid targeting UK customers. The government now wants to close that route completely. Ministers warned that some unlicensed firms operate under weak regulation and may expose vulnerable gamblers to harm. They also raised concerns about possible links to organised crime.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said it is wrong for unlicensed operators to promote themselves through top clubs. She argued that these partnerships could direct fans to sites that fail to meet British safety standards.
Everton’s sponsorship with Stake.com has drawn the most attention. The agreement is reportedly worth £10m a year. Stake faced scrutiny while it still held a UK licence because customers could use cryptocurrency to place bets. That payment method is not allowed under British rules.
The club later told the company to remove its branding from a high-value betting promotion. Stake eventually surrendered its UK licence after a Gambling Commission investigation into its marketing activities. It has continued to sponsor Everton despite leaving the regulated market.
Many of these deals relied on a “white label” provider, TGP Europe, which allowed overseas firms to access UK sponsorships. Regulators fined the company £3.3m for anti-money-laundering failures and poor checks on partners. TGP has since withdrawn from the British market.
Its exit means several club sponsors no longer hold licences in Great Britain. A full ban would block them from sleeve deals and all other commercial links with Premier League teams.
