The German soccer “fan alliance” Unsere Kurve (Our Curve) is demanding the sports clubs and the German legislature (Bundesrat) ban sports betting sponsorships and television ads.
In its statement January 12, the alliance criticized sports wagering’s “increased media presence” since the Fourth Interstate Treaty on Gambling passed in Germany.
The association is concerned with the increased public exposure to betting advertisements and the number of sponsorships with the German Football Association (DFB) and other sports clubs.
The statement added, “Advertising partners such as athletes, clubs and even the sports show or kicker give sports betting a serious image through their advertising platform and convey the message that they are harmless.”
Unsere Kurve urged “politicians to immediately regulate the advertising of sports betting in public spaces more closely and to carry out intensive education and prevention,” and added, “We demand that football associations and clubs refrain from cooperating and sponsoring contracts with sports betting providers. In the case of existing contracts, we demand restrictions on the visibility of advertising for sports betting as well as financial participation in independent educational and prevention work.”
The German Sports Betting Association has said it will challenge any sports betting advertising ban.
