Unlicensed betting companies face sponsorship bans

Unlicensed gambling companies in the UK may be banned from sponsoring sports teams – including Premier League clubs – as part of a government crackdown.

Ministers say they are concerned about risks posed by the unlicensed market, such as companies not following laws and guidelines meant to protect customers.

This includes mandatory financial vulnerability checks and responsible advertising.

The government also warns that a lack of data protection measures can leave people vulnerable to fraud and identity theft and that unlicensed betting is linked to organized crime.

A consultation on the proposals will be launched this spring.

Last year, the Gambling Commission warned several clubs about their relationship with unlicensed TGP Europe.

The Premier League’s Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle and Wolves, as well as the then-Championship Burnley, were sponsored by betting sites run by the company, which handed over its British license after an investigation found it had failed to “conduct adequate checks on business partners” and breached “anti-money laundering rules”.

A letter sent to clubs warned that they “may be subject to prosecution… if they promote unlicensed consumer-facing gambling businesses in Great Britain”.