Reports say that the Government of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is more and more likely to impose a ban on gambling sponsorship deals with football clubs by the autumn of 2021. The change is being considered at a time when the country’s authorities have been trying to tackle problem gambling rates.
There was a call for evidence regarding tougher measure in the sector as part of the most extensive review of the UK gambling industry since 2005, which is set to expire in March 2021. According to people close to the Government talks, the country’s legislators are determined to proceed with serious reform.
Senior Whitehall figures, who took part in the gambling industry review, said they are concerned about the possible removal of important money flow for sports after the coronavirus crisis, saying that would be the worst possible timing for such actions. Reportedly, the suspension of gambling sponsorships in football would cause a shortfall of £110 million every year in the English Premier League (EPL) and the Championship only.
However, campaigners claim that about two-thirds of local people support a ban on football shirt sponsorship deals, and the UK Government’s decision will very much depend on the evidence over the connection between the local betting industry and gambling addiction within the sport.
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The leader of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling harm, Carolyn Harris MP, shared she was confident that the Prime Minister was coming closer to making an announcement about a significant overhaul in the sector. Ms Harris further said that for her, common sense should prevail over greed, because gambling sponsorship deals were not the only way for funding football clubs.
According to campaigners, suspension of gambling companies’ football shirt sponsorships already looks increasingly likely in the months to come.
A recently unveiled analysis of UK people’s betting habits showed there was not much of a decline registered in gambling at the time when sports were literally non-existent during the first coronavirus lockdown in the country. Indeed, gamblers were not able to place wagers on football or racing but their interest in online slots, which are known to have no stake limits and higher addition rates, rose.
According to a study carried out by Professor Kate Hunt of the University of Stirling, 17.3% of male punters and 16.6% of female punters started to bet on new gambling services in the first Covid-19 lockdown. Furthermore, research made by GambleAware had previously found that up to 2.7% of UK adult residents (or about 1.4 million people) are classified as gambling addicts.
The UK Government published its call for evidence in December 2020, after making a pledge to review the gambling industry in its pre-election manifesto. The call for evidence is set to be followed by a White Paper of recommendations by the end of the summer or the autumn of 2021, with lawmakers saying they would follow the evidence gathered during this period.
Local anti-gambling campaigners and charity organisations say that public opinion is now in favour of a full ban on gambling shirt sponsorships in order to protect vulnerable players who are unable to control their gambling habits and who associate football with gambling.
- Author
Daniel Williams
