The UK government plans to consult in spring 2026 on a ban on unlicensed gambling operators sponsoring UK sport. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the consultation is intended to address risks linked to the illegal market and competition for regulated businesses.
The proposal could change which gambling operators may sponsor UK sporting organisations.
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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.
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.
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 launched a public consultation on banning sports sponsorship by unlicensed gambling operators. The measure remains a proposal.
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.