NEWS
19 July 2022
Premier League clubs prepared to back ban on betting brands as shirt sponsors
By Gambling Insider

Next week, England’s top 20 football teams will convene to discuss the proposal at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting.

Clubs had faced pressure earlier this month to drop gambling brands as their main shirt sponsors, but a government shakeup ultimately led the League to relax its stance. Instead, a discussion on the matter was tabled for the upcoming meeting.

While there has been much speculation concerning the support for a voluntary ban, the Times has said club sources indicate it will be passed.

This requires the backing of 14 teams, including the so-called big six: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

However, of these, none currently has a gambling brand as its main shirt sponsor, though seven other top-flight clubs do while Nottingham Forest and Fulham have yet to confirm deals.

Furthermore, teams are expected to insist on maintaining sleeve sponsorships and a three-season transitional period.

Regardless of next week’s outcome, a vote on the proposal will likely not occur until at least September when the UK’s political environment is more stable.

The UK Government’s much-anticipated White Paper on gambling reform will also be published around this time after a delay last week saw it pushed back once again, this time until a new Prime Minister is found.

In May, reports suggested that the UK Government was considering a mandatory ban on betting shirt sponsorships, though this was latter dropped in favour of a voluntary agreement.