A new framework for border crossings has been introduced in Gibraltar as the UK and the European Union signed an awaited treaty, which is set to come into force on July 15,...
UK DCMS opens consultation on illegal operators’ sponsorships
The UK’s Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) launched a consultation into the potential ban of gambling advertisements and sponsorships by illegal operators on July 15, 2026.
The official consultation comes after recent reports from the Guardian suggested that the UK was set to launch a review of illegal operators’ sports sponsorships, with current DCMS statements revealing that the government aims to introduce restrictive measures by August 2027. The goal of the enforcement is to reduce money laundering risks and protect British users from possible gambling harm.
DCMS wrote in a statement:
“The current legislation undermines the gambling licensing and advertising regulatory frameworks, which aim to protect consumers in Great Britain and reduce the risk of money-laundering and crime. We are therefore consulting on legislative changes to ban unlicensed gambling sponsorships and advertising in Great Britain across all sectors, including sport. We are proposing using secondary legislation to do so.”
If the proposal is approved, gambling ads on sports kits, equipment, sponsorships of programs, stadiums, tournaments, or playing areas will all be banned. In case of violations, clubs, individuals, and leagues will face criminal offences. Additionally, the DCMS’s decision to introduce the ban on other sectors as well comes from concerns that other industries might become replacements for illegal sports sponsorships.
The consultation is scheduled to conclude on September 9, 2026.
According to reports from the Guardian, the UK government is in the process of launching a review into sponsorships of British sports teams by unlicensed gambling operators...
