Bernice Larryoboh
Sports Betting Companies have thrived via advertisements on the front of EPL club shirts, panel boards etc courtesy of their sponsorship deals with English Premier league Clubs.
Some of those marketing gains will receive huge blow as the 20 English Premier League clubs have voted to end the advertisement of gambling sponsorships on the front of their shirts.
A statement by the clubs announced a collective decision to voluntarily reduce gambling advertising on club shirts.
The English Premier League thus becomes the first sports league in the United Kingdom to take such a stand in the face of growing calls to end gambling advertisements in sports.
The decision does not ban gambling companies from being used as sponsors on shirt sleeves.
As highlighted by a message from the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sports immediately after the announcement of the shirt advertisement ban, gambling reviews are targeted at protecting young football fans who may not be averse with the tenets of responsible and safe gambling.
According to UK culture secretary,Lucy Frazer on Thursday, “The vast majority of adults gamble safely but we have to recognize that footballers are role models who have enormous influence on young people.
“We want to work with institutions like the Premier League to do the right thing for young fans.”
Eight Premier League clubs currently have gambling sponsorship on the front of their shirts: Bournemouth, Everton, Leeds, Southampton, West Ham, Fulham, Newcastle and Brentford.
To allow for smooth transition for those clubs already tied to deals with betting companies, the agreement will enter into force until the end of the 2025-26 season.
“The Premier League is also working with other sports on the development of a new code for responsible gambling sponsorship,” the Premier league added.
A decision by the English Premier League which is the world`s most followed football league will definitely rub on on the football leagues in the world.
It will soon become a universal standard despite the obvious financial losses some clubs will suffer for rejecting advertisement of gambling platforms in front of their shirts.