11 Premier League Clubs Retain Gambling Sponsors Despite Upcoming Ban
Several Premier League clubs have signed new deals with gambling companies ahead of the final season before a ban on front-of-shirt betting sponsorships comes into effect.
What’s Changing and When?
The 2025/26 season will be the last in which clubs are allowed to feature betting logos on the front of their shirts. Despite a voluntary agreement to phase out such sponsorships starting in 2026/27, 11 out of the 20 Premier League teams will kick off the new season with gambling brands on their kits.
No club has replaced a betting sponsor with a non-gambling company. The only changes involve switching from one gambling brand to another: West Ham has moved from Betway to Boyle Sports, and Nottingham Forest has replaced Kaiyun with Bally’s.
Which Clubs Still Have Betting Sponsors?
- West Ham – Boyle Sports
- Nottingham Forest – Bally’s
- Crystal Palace, Everton, Aston Villa – retained their existing deals
- Plus 6 other clubs with unchanged betting partnerships
The ‘Big Six’ Stay Clear of Gambling Sponsors
All clubs in the so-called “Big Six” — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham — do not feature gambling sponsors on their shirts.
Among the remaining clubs, only Brighton, Leeds, and Newcastle have deals with non-gambling companies — often due to ownership models or pre-existing stadium agreements.
Real Reform or a PR Move?
Critics have described the sponsorship ban as a “cynical gesture” aimed at avoiding stricter government regulation.
According to the Coalition Against Gambling Ads, the move is largely symbolic, especially since gambling logos will still appear on shirt sleeves and around stadiums.
Restrictions That Don’t Go Far Enough
Even after the front-of-shirt ban takes effect, clubs will still be allowed to advertise gambling through:
- Sleeve sponsorships
- Stadium perimeter boards
- Digital and broadcast channels
As a result, the visual presence of gambling brands will remain largely intact.
Social Impact and Growing Protests
According to the UK Department of Health, gambling is linked to between 117 and 496 suicides per year.
Nonetheless, clubs continue to profit — earning an estimated £101 million from gambling deals during the 2024/25 season. The upcoming ban is expected to reduce sponsorship revenues by around 38%.
Some clubs have even been criticized for partnering with unregulated companies. For example, Leicester City fielded a young player wearing a shirt without a sponsor logo, as their main kit featured BC Game — a crypto-linked betting brand.
A Voice of Protest: Tragedy Behind the Stats
Anne Ashton, whose husband took his own life in 2021 after struggling with gambling addiction, spoke out strongly:
It’s heartbreaking to see clubs continue to normalize gambling and ignore the harm it causes. This has to stop.
Conclusion
The formal ban taking effect in the 2026/27 season may appear significant, but many argue it’s merely a surface-level change — with real reform still lacking.