Premier League Clubs Warned over Unlicensed Betting Sponsorships
Two Premier League clubs have received warnings about their active sponsorship deals with Kaiyun Sports, an online bookmaker that does not hold a UK license.
UKGC warns Premier League teams over sponsorship deals.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Premier League clubs have agreed to phase out gambling sponsorships on their jerseys as part of their efforts to combat gambling harms starting from the 2026-27 season. Despite this, several clubs have signed sponsorship deals with gambling operators for the coming season.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are two teams currently partnered with Kaiyun Sports, which is one of Asia’s leading digital sports betting platforms. Crystal Palace entered into their agreement with Kaiyun Sports on May 27, 2023, making the brand their Official Sleeve Partner for the 2023-24 season. Meanwhile, in September last year, Nottingham Forest secured a two-year sponsorship deal with Kaiyun Sports, naming them the official front-of-shirt sponsor.
Gambling Regulator Issues a Warning
Despite being signed last year, the UK Gambling Commission warned both teams only recently. Both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest were cautioned primarily because Kaiyun Sports is not licensed to operate in the UK.
We have made it clear to Nottingham Forest that a sports body engaging in sponsorship arrangements with an unlicensed remote operator may be liable for the offence of advertising unlawful gambling (under section 330 of the Gambling Act 2005) if the remote gambling activity isn’t blocked to consumers in Great Britain.
This warning underscores that Nottingham Forest could be promoting unlawful gambling if the operator’s services aren’t restricted in the UK.
More Regulation News
UK Soccer Leagues Adopt New Code of Conduct
Earlier this week, major UK soccer leagues confirmed a new code of conduct for gambling-related sponsorships. Clearly, the agreements with Kaiyun Sports do not comply with this new code, which was established by the EFL, the FA, the Premier League, and the Women’s Super League.
However, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are not the first high-profile clubs to partner with Kaiyun Sports. Aston Villa formed an official partnership with the gambling operator in 2022, and Chelsea also had an active agreement with Kaiyun Sports.
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