Premier League Clubs Urged to Voluntarily Drop Betting Operator Shirt Sponsorship

The Premier League has urged clubs to voluntarily ban front-of-shirt sponsorship from betting operators. Sky News reported the Premier League wants top clubs to drop gambling operators’ sponsorship to prevent a mandated embargo.

Updated: 26 January 2024 By Becky Mosley

The Premier League has urged clubs to voluntarily ban front-of-shirt sponsorship from betting operators. Sky News reported the Premier League wants top clubs to drop gambling operators’ sponsorship to prevent a mandated embargo.

‘Phase Out Shirt Sponsorship’

The Premier League has recommended clubs phase out shirt sponsorship within the next three years and existing contracts end no later than 2024/25. In total, 14 clubs would need to sever ties with gambling operators, however, some clubs have complained they have been given days to respond rather than the proposed time frame.The UK Gambling Act is currently under review to bring it in line with the digital age, and the White Paper is due for release anytime. Initially, it was thought the overhaul of the Gambling Act would include a blanket ban on front of shirt advertising by gambling operators, but since, it’s come to light this has been dropped.Instead of a blanket ban, the government could reach a compromise with Premier League clubs, however, if an agreement is not met a legislative ban may be imposed.Sky News previously reported the government would allow clubs to continue shirt sleeve advertising indefinitely, but this has yet to be confirmed.

Logos Would Still Be Present

Although banning front-shirt sponsorship would not necessarily stop logos from being shown. Periphery advertising would still be used by clubs as betting sponsorship has increased over the past few years.The larger clubs in the Premier League including Manchester United, Tottenham, Mans City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all expected to voluntarily ban front-of-shirt advertising as these clubs do not rely on the sponsorship revenue, however, others do, and this would affect them dramatically.Although, until the White Paper is released there’s much speculation regarding shirt sponsorship in football, many campaigners are ardent for a blanket ban on all gambling operator sponsorship, including peripheral and shirt sleeve advertising.

Becky Mosley
Editor-in-Chief at Compare Casino Sites

Rebecca (Becky) Mosley has been at the heart of the UK online gambling industry since 2008 — making her one of the most experienced voices in casino comparison. She is editor-in-chief at Compare Casino Sites and personally oversees every casino review published here.

Becky brings a genuine player-first perspective to everything on CCS. Her approach has always been the same: transparency, fair bonus terms, and responsible gambling above all else. She insists on the same standards from every operator listed on the site — if a casino's terms can't stand up to plain-English scrutiny, it doesn't earn a recommendation.

Over 17 years in the industry, Becky has built deep expertise across UK Gambling Commission licensing, slot game mechanics, bonus structures, and the constantly evolving regulatory landscape. She works directly with operators and software providers to keep every listing accurate, and reviews each casino's wagering requirements, withdrawal limits, and customer support before a single rating goes live.

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