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Premier League Clubs Face Inspection Over Unlicensed Gambling Sites
Premier League clubs face renewed inspection as shirt sponsors BC.Game, DEBET, and 96.com continue to serve UK customers despite losing their UK gambling licenses.
An investigation by the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) shared by Sky News revealed that BC.Game, DEBET, and 96.com, shirt sponsors of Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley, respectively, remain accessible to British users, raising serious questions about regulatory compliance. CEGA reported successfully depositing on each site, suggesting the companies are still operating in violation of UK law.
The Gambling Commission has previously warned the clubs of the risks of facing fines and imprisonment in case they continue promoting unlicensed gambling services.
All three platforms were previously licensed under TGP Europe, which surrendered its UK license on May 15 to avoid a £3.3 million penalty. This immediately rendered DEBET, 96.com, and associated brands ineligible to transact with UK players. BC.Game parted ways with TGP in December 2024 and has operated without a license since.
CEGA director Will Prochaska shared on BC.Game:
“In fact, it was one of the easiest for me to gamble on—there were very few checks whatsoever.”
He also added that he contacted Leicester City in March with concerns about BC.Game, but received no reply, so the casino remained on the team’s shirts.
Sky News verified the ease of registration on six gambling websites linked to Leicester, Wolves, Burnley, Bournemouth, Fulham, and Newcastle United. All the platforms previously held the TGP license and are no longer permitted to serve UK customers. Most platforms allowed registration via phone numbers or Telegram accounts, with little to no geographic verification. While BC.Game verified the UK phone number provided, it still permitted registration to proceed.
Director Will Prochaska told Sky News:
“Far too many children, far too many football fans, are seeing these adverts every day. It’s got to stop.”
Despite the findings, no club has announced plans to end the sponsorships, with the current season concluded but with most agreements still mid-term.
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