A survey taken of 27,000 fans by the English Football League found that 62 percent of fans also said the gambling industry’s involvement in football was acceptable with suitable safeguards to protect the young and problem gamblers.
The league said that half of supporters surveyed haven’t placed a bet online in the last 12 months and about 13 percent said they bet once a week. About 28 percent said they bet through league sponsor Sky Bet.
The league stressed that the long-term partnership between the EFL and Sky Bet has always included Responsible Gambling as a core value. Between them they have invested £1m over a five-year period to educate clubs via the responsible gambling campaign.
Meanwhile, online gambling operator 1xBet has named English Premier League club Chelsea a commercial partner and Paddy Power has signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Huddersfield Town.
Chelsea’s deal with 1xBet will run for three seasons with the operator to serve as the club’s official betting partner.
1xBet said in a press release that the agreement will provide it with greater visibility worldwide, particularly in the UK where it is seeking to increase market share.
“It’s a big honor for us to become a partner of such a great football club as Chelsea, said 1xBet spokesman, Alex Sommers in a press release. “We guarantee that Chelsea fans will see a variety of interesting and engaging activities from the partnership over the next three years.”
Meanwhile, Paddy Power has signed a one-year deal to become the title partner of Huddersfield Town, which was relegated from the top-tier Premier League last season.
Paddy Power branding will feature on the front of players’ shirts throughout the 2019-20 season, in a deal that marks the bookmaker’s first shirt sponsorship in the UK.
“We are excited to announce that we are Huddersfield Town’s shirt sponsor this season, our first foray into shirt sponsorship,” said Michelle Spillane, brand and marketing director at Paddy Power in a press release. “They’re a club which, first and foremost, value their fans and know what it means to be a football supporter.”
