Unlicensed betting firms face sponsorship ban

Gambling firms not licensed in the UK could be banned from sponsoring sports teams – including Premier League clubs – as part of a government crackdown.

Ministers say they are worried about the risks stemming from the unlicensed market, such as companies not following laws and guidelines aimed at protecting customers.

These include mandatory financial vulnerability checks and responsible advertising.

The government also warns a lack of data protection measures can leave people open to fraud and identity theft and that unlicensed betting has been linked to organised crime.

A consultation into the prosposals will be launched this spring.

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

Premier League Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle and Wolves, as well as then-Championship Burnley, were all sponsored by betting websites run by the firm, which had surrendered its British licence after an investigation found it failed to “carry out sufficient checks on business partners” and breached “anti-money laundering rules”.

A letter sent to the clubs warned they “may be liable to prosecution… if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain”.