Ever since the U.K. Gambling Commission dissected the nation’s gaming laws, one expectation was a ban on gambling sponsors on athletic team jerseys. While the draft white paper has yet to be released, sources informed BBC Sport that the proposal made it into the changes, at least with the Premier League clubs. Half the teams in the league sport betting companies logos on their jerseys.
Supporters say other football leagues should abide by the same provisions.
A House of Lords select committee recommended the ban in 2020, but suggested Championship clubs be able to phase out the sponsorships.
The delay releasing the white paper might hint at clubs negotiating less stringent rules for the next few seasons. The Premier League says a voluntary approach to the shirt problem would be a more welcome alternative. The EFL says a shirt ban could cost clubs £40 million a year.
James Grimes of The Big Step, said barring shirt ads but not pitch-side advertising, league sponsorship and club partnerships comes across as incoherent in reducing gambling harm.
“Every young fan should be able to watch their club—in the ground and on TV—without being bombarded by ads for gambling, which we know harms millions, and takes hundreds of lives every year.
“If the government recognizes gambling can be harmful, as this step suggests, then it must end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football at all levels, not just on shirts.”
A recent YouGov survey said 1.4 million people in Britain are being harmed by gambling with a further 1.5 million at risk. But the Premier League and EFL believe there is no evidence to show a causal link between gambling sponsorship and problem gambling.
In related regulatory news, the Joint Committee for Justice in Ireland, published its response to the Gambling Regulation Bill. The committee recommended that gambling ads not be permitted before 9 p.m. and that unlicensed sites be blocked from access.
The report comes in response to the pre-legislative scrutiny on of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill and makes a number of recommendations to adjust how gambling is regulated in Ireland.
In addition, the bill will create a gambling regulator in the country.
The report also includes information from meetings with stakeholders, which took place in March, according to iGaming Business.
One of the most significant recommendations in the report is a complete ban of “all forms of gambling advertising” before 9 p.m. The ban on ads reflects concerns about the effect of such ads on children and teenagers.
The health industry agreed that such ads have a disproportionate effect on children and those who deal with problem gambling.
The committee called for an evaluation between gambling and sports especially ads during competition aimed at young people.
It was also recommended blocking domain name system for unlicensed websites should be considered. Internet service providers could block websites that would not be licensed in Ireland. The final disposition should also prohibit gambling on credit or with credit cards.
“In October 2021, Deputy James Browne, the Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, forwarded the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill to this committee in accordance with standing orders for the purpose of pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme,” said Deputy James Lawless, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Justice.
“I hope that this report will help to inform the legislative process and make a valuable contribution to the forthcoming legislation,” Lawless said.
