TLDR Entain has urged the Independent Football Regulator to block Premier League clubs from accepting sponsorship deals with unlicensed gambling operators Five Premier League clubs including Everton and Fulham currently have shirt deals with operators not licensed in the UK The UK illegal gambling black market generates £4.3bn a year and is expected to reach £17bn soon Research shows 18 of 20 Premier League clubs displayed advertising for unlawful operators on LED boards this season Entain wants clubs forced to verify gambling partners’ licence status in annual declarations with legal consequences for false statements
Entain, the company behind Ladbrokes and Coral, has called on the Independent Football Regulator to crack down on Premier League clubs taking money from unlicensed gambling companies.
The gambling giant made its push during the IFR’s second licensing consultation. This process is setting new rules for the top five tiers of English men’s football.
Entain says the regulator already has the tools to act. Its draft rules prohibit clubs from accepting funds tied to serious criminal conduct, and Entain wants the IFR to confirm that money from unlicensed gambling operators falls under that definition.
Stella David, Entain’s Chief Executive, did not hold back. She said Premier League clubs “are being sponsored by criminal gambling firms” and that the regulator “can stop this tomorrow.”
David added that unlicensed gambling companies targeting UK customers through English football “are breaking the law – plain and simple.”
Several Premier League Clubs Already Tied to Unlicensed Sponsors
The issue is not theoretical. Everton, Sunderland, Fulham, Bournemouth, and Burnley all currently have shirt deals with gambling operators that do not hold UK licences.
Research found that 18 of the 20 Premier League clubs have shown advertising for unlawful operators on LED boards during the current season.
The league has