Labour deputy leader wants to ban online gambling football club deals

Writing in the political publication Labour List this week, Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson called for an end to UK football club shirt sponsorships by gambling firms.

Watson wants to tackle what he claims is the “hidden epidemic” of gambling addiction, and says that football must play its part if Britain is to overcome the problem.

He points out that 25 of the 92 professional football clubs in Britain hold shirt sponsorship deals with gambling firms, including nine out of 20 English Premier League clubs and 14 out of 24 Championship clubs.

Gambling firms are already restricted by the Football Association and cannot sponsor under-18 teams but it is estimated that children face far more betting adverts than ever before, both online and as a result of exposure to senior team sponsorship.

Watson opined that shirt sponsorship sends out a message that football clubs don’t take problem gambling among their own fans seriously enough.

“It puts gambling brands in front of fans of all ages, not just at matches but on broadcasts, and highlights packages on both commercial television and the BBC,” he said, revealing that Labour.
will soon announce further measures to tackle gambling advertising.

Clubs have a “corporate social responsibility” not to promote harmful products, Watson observed, highlighting the FA’s decision to terminate a sponsorship deal with a betting company.

“With new evidence showing gambling addiction rising, at a huge cost to individuals and their families, to society and to the taxpayer, the clubs should follow the FA’s lead,” he added.

“Just as tobacco companies were banned from sponsoring sporting events and putting their logos on branded goods because of the harm smoking can cause, it’s right that we recognise the harm problem gambling does and take gambling logos off football shirts.”

Related and similar