As the deadline for the ban on gambling firms as shirt sponsors in the Premier League approaches, clubs across the top tier of English football are facing a scramble to find alternative sources of sponsorship revenue. The ban, set to come into effect at the start of the 2023/24 season, has sent shockwaves through the football world, with many clubs heavily reliant on the lucrative deals with betting companies.
Currently, nine out of the 20 Premier League clubs have gambling firms as their shirt sponsors, including the likes of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Burnley. These deals have been a significant source of revenue for these clubs, with some sponsorship deals reportedly worth upwards of £10 million per year.
The ban, which was announced by the British government in a bid to reduce problem gambling and protect vulnerable individuals, has left clubs in a difficult position. Many are now faced with the daunting task of finding new sponsors to fill the void left by the absence of gambling firms.
According to a report in City A.M., some clubs are already in talks with potential sponsors from a range of industries, including tech companies, financial services firms, and telecommunications companies. However, these deals are unlikely to match the financial rewards that gambling firms have been able to offer.
The ban on gambling sponsors is likely to have a significant impact on the Premier League clubs that have relied on these deals in recent years. With the ban set to come into effect in just over a year, clubs will need to act quickly to secure new sponsorship deals and ensure they can continue to compete at the highest level of English football.
The ban on gambling sponsors in the Premier League is just the latest development in the ongoing debate around the role of gambling in football. While some have welcomed the ban as a positive step towards reducing problem gambling, others have argued that it will have a negative impact on clubs’ finances and could potentially lead to job losses in the industry.
As the deadline for the ban approaches, it remains to be seen how Premier League clubs will adapt to the new regulations and whether they will be able to find alternative sources of sponsorship revenue to replace the lucrative deals with gambling firms. One thing is for certain – the landscape of shirt sponsorship in English football is set to change dramatically in the coming years.