Premier League trio secures bookmaker firms as main sponsors
Hear ye, hear ye! Here's the lowdown on the latest sports sponsorships.
Crystal Palace FC has just clinched a record-breaking deal with Net88, a bookmaker, that's got everyone talking. This ain't your average sponsorship - the Net88 logo will be plastered on the team's kit, and their training gear too.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) has also struck gold, with Debet, a gaming company, hopping on as the team's main sponsor for the upcoming seasons. Debet's calling it "historic". A rep from the company can't contain their excitement about seeing the Debet logo on the players' jerseys and at the stadium.
Aston Villa also joined the gambling-sponsored bandwagon back in April, securing a deal with Betano.
But here's the interesting twist - despite plans by the Premier League to phase out gambling logos on shirts by the end of 2025-2026, these partnerships are still going strong. In fact, each of the top ten teams in UEFA's ranking has a betting partner.
Now, over in Ukraine, things are a bit different. The Verkhovna Rada has passed bill 9256-d in the first reading, which effectively cuts off gambling companies from being sponsors.
Why are these partnerships so popular, you ask? It's all about the moolah, baby. These deals bring in big bucks - up to £101.1 million for the 2024-25 season across the league. Clubs can't resist such high-paying partnerships given the Premier League's global reach.
Plus, with millions of viewers worldwide tuning in to Premier League matches, these sponsorships provide a golden opportunity for gambling companies to promote their brands in regions where online betting is accepted. Even after the shirt front ban, sponsorships will persist on sleeves and LED advertising, maintaining visibility.
Clubs are also allowed to honor existing contracts and sign new deals until the 2025-2026 cutoff date. For instance, Everton continues to have Stake as its shirt sponsor, despite the operator losing its UK white-label license.
And here's a bit of the legal side - while the Gambling Commission focuses on licensing rather than outright bans, clubs face minimal immediate legal pressure to drop their gambling partners. The Premier League's voluntary ban is more of a political move than a regulatory one, meaning clubs can rake in the cash until stricter legislation comes into play.
So, while shirt-front logos will eventually disappear, gambling firms are expected to shift to alternative advertising to maintain their influence. The industry's financial muscle ensures these partnerships stay, unless stricter legislation emerges.
- The European leagues, like the Premier League, continue to attract gambling sponsors, with each of the top ten teams having a betting partner confirmed, despite plans to phase out such logos on shirts by the end of 2025-2026.
- In Ukraine, however, the Verkhovna Rada has passed bill 9256-d in the first reading, effectively cutting off gambling companies from being sports sponsors.
- The football industry, particularly the Premier League, attracts massive financial backing from the gambling sector, with deals bringing in up to £101.1 million for the 2024-25 season across the league.
- Crystal Palace FC has just secured a record-breaking deal with Net88, a bookmaker, that will see the Net88 logo plastered on the team's kit and training gear.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) has also struck a deal with Debet, a gaming company, set to be the team's main sponsor for the upcoming seasons.
- Aston Villa joined the trend back in April, securing a deal with Betano, demonstrating the growing prevalence of gambling sponsorships in football sports.
