There have been several recent developments in the sports sector. With the help of technological developments, the sports sector has begun developing novel methods of interacting with viewers.
The introduction and growth of sports gambling sponsorships have been a topic of much discussion recently. When sports betting was first introduced, many people, including fans, leagues, and the government, frowned upon its use.
However, times have changed, and bets on sporting events are now widely accepted by both individuals and institutions around the globe. Many leagues and clubs have started to consider sports gambling as one of their main income verticals or sources.
In fact, gambling has now made its way to becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It is becoming accessible even in places where it’s deemed illegal to provide locally with the use of regulated offshore casino sites, and the revenue generated seems to never stop rising.
Several Teams and Leagues have started working with various gambling platforms and have awarded them the rights & titles of official gambling partners/sponsors.
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Money Laundering
As a result of increased oversight, the vast majority of the industry’s operators are law-abiding businesses that abide by local laws, pay their fair share of taxes, and advocate for responsible gambling. There is often a natural fit between these legal businesses and the sports they sponsor, as the latter relies heavily on this income to maintain their operations.
Research issued in 2014 by Sorbonne University and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) indicated that criminal organizations were laundering US$140 billion annually through match-fixing and illicit betting, with 53 percent of unlawful bets originating in Asia.
The previous several decades have seen a tightening of ties between betting companies and individual sports teams, athletes, and events; in response, governments and organizations have passed rules to control the industry.
Existing Conditions
There is a complex scenario unfolding right now with gambling sponsors in English football. However, beginning in 2023, all forms of gambling advertising will be prohibited by the government.
However, many of the top teams in the country continue to have gambling businesses as their primary sponsors. How long the correlation between gambling and football will last in this nation is a mystery.
One important point to note is that sports betting has benefited greatly from advances in technology. The proliferation of gambling sponsorships among English football teams may be directly attributed to the proliferation of mobile gambling made possible by the proliferation of various tools, platforms, and payment methods.
More people are betting online than ever, and that trend is only expected to grow. Because of this, the influence of digital betting providers among businesses grows each. Because of this, it is quite unlikely that EPL would suddenly abandon them, and it is also impossible to ignore their influence.
If You Had To Guess, Who Would You Say Are The Most Famous Clubs Involved?
Now that you have a good grasp of the big picture in English soccer, it’s time to examine the current contracts. In this part, we are going to discuss some major gambling deals & sponsorships in the United Kingdom. Here are the clubs that strongly engage with betting organizations and even have their emblems on jerseys:
- Brentford
- Burnley
- Birmingham
- Team: Bristol City
- Crystal Palace
- Coventry City
- Derby County
- Leeds
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle
- Southampton
- Stoke City
- Watford
- Ham, West
- Wolves
Not even the most popular teams like Manchester City or Arsenal have betting logos plastered all over their jerseys. But, don’t let it deceive you — the quantities of money these teams earn from the gaming business is still astonishing.
Man Utd, Arsenal, Man City, & Tottenham, four of the top six clubs in the English Premier League, all have deals with gambling-related businesses.
What Sort Of Funding Do Clubs Often Receive?
It is uncertain how much money is actually being made by each team thanks to gambling sponsorships because the details of these deals are often kept secret. But we may draw certain assumptions based on news coverage.
The Daily Mail reports that the annual value of these contracts is in excess of £100 million. If you consider that nearly half of all EPL teams (9 out of 20) have betting businesses as corporate backers, the number becomes much simpler to fathom. A further six names from the Championships are required.
It’s difficult to foresee the gambling sector not wanting to sponsor football clubs under these conditions. After all, online gaming in the UK generates an estimated £5 billion annually in revenue.
Where Do Clubs Stand To Lose, Exactly?
Even though clubs can reap some benefits from working with a casino, they should also be aware of the dangers that come with such an alliance. There are a number of potential negative effects, but one is that it might hurt the club’s image. If a gambling corporation were to get engaged in a controversy, it may reflect adversely on the team.
Another possibility is that the bond will eventually deteriorate. The team may be in financial trouble if a gaming corporation ended its sponsorship agreement. Lastly, there is a concern that the club might become too closely identified with gambling. The team risks alienating fans who are morally opposed to gambling as a result of this decision.
The advantages of working with a gaming firm appear to be greater than the potential drawbacks. Clubs should weigh the benefits and drawbacks carefully before committing to anything.
