Everton Sponsor Stake Exits UK Gambling Market
Australian bookmaker and main sponsor of Everton FC, Stake is withdrawing from the UK market, as it faces scrutiny from regulators.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The exit follows an investigation launched by the Gambling Commission into a promotional video by Stake featuring adult star Bonnie Blue.
The controversial video was posted on X and featured Bonnie Blue bragging about a stunt that allegedly involved trying to have sex with “barely legal” 18-year-old freshmen at Nottingham Trent University.
The ad, posted by an account claiming ties to Stake but not an official company account, has since been removed. It is unclear whether Bonnie Blue was directly involved in the video's production or if the account that posted it simply shared existing footage.
Stake, one of the most popular cryptocurrency casinos and sportsbooks allows users to place bets using a range of digital currencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
However, its UK website does not offer crypto gambling. The platform is operated under a licensing agreement with TGP Europe, an Isle of Man-based company. The license also allows the company to partner with Premier League football clubs for front-of-shirt sponsorship deals.
These arrangements provide international gambling operators with a cost-effective means of entering the UK market, eliminating the need for large-scale investments in development and infrastructure.
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Gambling Commission Cracks Down on Unlicensed Sponsors
Yesterday, February 12, the Gambling Commission announced that Stake will cease to be a licensed online platform in the UK by March 11 after TGP revealed plans to close the website.
The commission further stated that it would issue warnings to Everton, along with two other football clubs with unlicensed sponsors, about the dangers of promoting unlicensed gambling sites in Great Britain.
The clubs include Nottingham Forest and Leicester, which have sponsorship agreements with Kaiyun.com and BC.Game respectively. Both gambling sites are unlicensed in Great Britain.
Leicester's sponsor, BC.Game was declared bankrupt by a Curaçao court in November 2024. However, the club decided not to pursue a new shirt sponsor after receiving assurances from BC.Game that it was capable of honoring its contractual commitments.
The Gambling Commission warned that club officials found promoting unlicensed gambling businesses may face legal consequences, including fines, imprisonment, or both.
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