July 21 – The comfort zone that the Premier League and EFL thought they had found with national regulation around betting sponsorship of clubs looks set to be given another shake.
The government’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Reform is launching a new inquiry into the ‘Future of Gambling Regulation in the UK’.
Led by Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former chairman of his party and a leading voice within its policy making, the cross-party group of gambling reformists have been increasingly vocal about government gambling policy which they feel is incomplete and a White Paper they feel is not fit for purpose.
Duncan Smith has repeatedly attacked the volume and high profile of betting ads and sponsorship in the English football leagues in particular.
In March the UK’s Football Governance Bill moved closer to becoming law as last-ditch efforts to force a sweeping ban on gambling sponsorship in football were defeated. There had been one amendment to the bill that called for the Independent Football Regulator to mandatorily block all gambling-related advertising and sponsorship in English football, however that was defeated by a parliamentary vote.
The Premier League has pushed for self-regulation rather than an outright ban, and has committed to phasing out front-of-shirt betting sponsors by the end of the 2025-26 season. Bookmaker sponsorship will still be allowed on shirt sleeves.
Critics have argued the Premier League’s self-regulation doesn’t go far enough, calling for a complete ban on sponsorship and advertising similar to regulation already adopted in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“The previous Government’s White Paper marked a step in the right direction by beginning to address some of the challenges posed by today’s gambling industry,” said Duncan Smith.
“However, it is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure our regulatory framework is fit for the digital age to protect people from harm. This inquiry will play a crucial role in shaping our recommendations to Government, and I strongly encourage organisations and individuals to submit evidence to help inform our work.”
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