Entain has written letters to 10 Premier League clubs asking them to end commercial deals with illegal gambling operators that don’t hold a UK license.
The Ladbrokes and Coral owner sent the letters as the UK government is in the process of deciding whether unlicensed gambling companies should be banned from sponsoring British sports, with the consultation having closed on September 9.
The clubs named by Entain are Fulham, Everton, Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace, while the operators involved include SBOTOP, Stake, 8XBet, FUN88, VSBet, and Chexx.bet.
8XBet has the biggest presence on the list, with partnerships involving five of the clubs. Entain has questioned whether deals aimed at offshore audiences can actually stay separate from UK consumers, especially when some of the sites can still be accessed by bypassing restrictions.
A source from Entain shared:
“The material also shows how 8XBet directs users around the normal app-store route via TestFlight. Its app contains imagery of major football stars and current Premier League players, apparently drawing on club sponsorship assets despite the operator not being licensed in Great Britain.”
Entain’s Group Deputy General Counsel, Charles Kovats, also addressed Everton’s deal with Stake:
“Everton’s association with Stake.com is particularly at odds with the Prime Minister’s longstanding support for the club. It seems unimaginable that, having made his government’s opposition to unlicensed gambling agreements clear, Andy Burnham would become a billboard for unregulated gaming by wearing the club’s current strip.”
However, the Premier League has opposed a possible ban, arguing that these sponsorship deals provide valuable income for clubs; despite this, the government is expected to make a decision after the consultation ends.
