The UK government is considering a ban on sponsorship deals between sports clubs and unlicensed gambling operators. It plans to consult later this spring on the legal framework, existing deals and whether clubs should check partners’ licence status, the government said.
The proposal could require sports clubs to verify gambling sponsors’ UK licensing status.
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DCMS has opened a consultation on prohibiting illegal gambling sponsorship in sport. The launch follows confirmation that consultation was pending and concerns among licensed operators, including Entain.
Reportedly, the Local Health and Global Profits research consortium urged DCMS to include licensed gambling operators in its proposed sports sponsorship ban. The consortium welcomed the proposal targeting unlicensed gambling sponsorship but called for wider restrictions.
The Local Health and Global Profits (LHGP) research consortium has said the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation on banning unlicensed gambling sponsorship in sport should be widened to cover licensed operators. The consortium described a ban focused on the black market as a necessary step but said DCMS should go further to reduce gambling-related harm. The consultation closed on 9 September and no decision has been announced.
The British parliament has again rejected a prohibition on advertising and sponsorship of sports betting. The outlet said the debate is not new. No further details of the vote or the proposal were given.
The UK government has confirmed plans to block sponsorship and advertising deals with unlicensed gambling operators, extending the restriction beyond sport. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said a second consultation is under way, with the ban scheduled to take effect by August 2027. Officials have not fixed a timeline, and an alternative option would let existing contracts run until August 2028.
It was reported that DCMS extended its unlicensed gambling sponsorship ban proposal to non-sport agreements as a second consultation began. White-label arrangements appear unaffected.