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Casino Brands in Irish Football Jersey Sponsorships

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Casino and betting operators have become a fixture on League of Ireland jerseys, filling the front-of-shirt space that represents the most valuable piece of commercial real estate any club can sell.

While the FAI banned gambling sponsors from the Republic of Ireland national team in June 2024, domestic clubs remain free to sign casino partnerships, and the financial pressure to do so has never been clearer.

The 888 Blueprint

The clearest example of how deep casino brands have embedded themselves in Irish football comes from 888, the global betting and gaming group that has secured headline sponsorships with two of the league’s most successful clubs.

In 2024, Dundalk announced 888 as their main sponsor in what the club described as the largest commercial deal in their history. The arrangement went beyond a simple logo placement. 888 Casino appeared on the home shirt, 888 Sport on the away kit, and 888 Poker on the third strip.

Shamrock Rovers, the reigning Premier Division champions at the time, signed a similar deal that saw 888sport branding occupy the front of their jerseys for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The partnership was framed in community terms, but the outcome was straightforward: one of Ireland’s biggest clubs carried a gambling brand in the most prominent position available.

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Both deals illustrate that casino sponsorships are not confined to struggling sides hunting for cash. Top-performing clubs with national visibility have leaned into these partnerships, making gambling logos as much a part of League of Ireland identity as any crest or colour scheme.

The Online Casino Market Behind the Jerseys

The operators appearing on League of Ireland shirts are drawn from a well-established online casino market in Ireland that has matured significantly over the past decade.

The sector is competitive and well-funded. Operators compete on game libraries, payout percentages, payment options, and customer support, but they also compete heavily on brand recognition. That is where football comes in. Getting a logo onto the front of a League of Ireland jersey offers weekly visibility in communities where digital advertising alone struggles to build the same level of trust or familiarity.

For Irish players trying to separate legitimate online casinosfrom less reliable options, it is worth looking at reviews from trusted experts that assess licensing, payout records, and safety standards rather than promotional offers. The brands investing in football sponsorships tend to be the larger, more established operators with stronger regulatory oversight, but size alone does not guarantee a good experience or fair terms.

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What matters for clubs is that these operators have substantial marketing budgets and view Irish football as a worthwhile investment.

Why Clubs Need the Money

League of Ireland clubs operate in a financial environment that makes high-value sponsorships essential rather than optional. The FAI itself is carrying €43 million in debt, has cycled through repeated leadership changes, and offers prize money that barely covers operating costs. The broader structural problems at the association have been well documented, but the effect on clubs is straightforward: limited funding and few alternatives.

Winning the league brings €125,000. Lifting the FAI Cup adds €32,000 plus gate receipts. For context, that is less than many clubs spend on a single senior signing or a few months of squad wages. Academy funding remains patchy, infrastructure lags behind European norms, and alternative revenue streams such as broadcast deals or merchandise have failed to fill the gap.

Against that backdrop, a front-of-shirt casino sponsor offering six figures becomes difficult to refuse. Clubs such as Bohemians, Derry City, and others have followed the same path, prioritising survival, and competitiveness over concerns about gambling exposure.

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A Two-tier Sponsorship Policy

The FAI’s decision to ban betting operators from national team sponsorship while leaving League of Ireland clubs untouched has created a policy split that benefits casino brands.

At international level, the association has distanced itself from gambling partnerships, citing public health concerns around problem gambling. That ban covers all official sponsorships of the Republic of Ireland senior side, including shirt deals.

At club level, however, no such restrictions apply. Domestic teams are explicitly permitted to continue signing casino and betting sponsors, including front-of-shirt agreements. The contrast is stark: the national team presents a gambling-free image, while the clubs that feed it carry casino logos every week.

This divergence may actually increase the attractiveness of Irish club shirts to casino operators. The English Premier League has committed to phasing out front-of-shirt betting sponsorships, and several European leagues are tightening similar rules. Ireland’s domestic competition, by comparison, remains open for business.

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Safeguards and Limitations

Not every shirt carries a casino logo. Dundalk’s 888 deal included a carve-out for infant and youth jerseys, as well as some adult replicas, which were produced without gambling branding. The move reflects regulatory caution and acknowledges the ethical concerns around exposing children to casino advertising, even indirectly.

Still, the core commercial message remains intact. Adult match shirts, the versions worn by players and most visible to broadcasters and crowds, carry the full casino branding. The safeguard limits the reach but does not fundamentally alter the partnership.

What Happens Next

Casino brands have established themselves as central rather than incidental to League of Ireland sponsorship. They bring the kind of money clubs need to stay competitive, and they occupy the most valuable marketing space available.

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As long as debts remain high and financial structures remain weak, and as long as domestic teams are excluded from the betting-sponsor ban, casino logos will continue to appear on Irish football jerseys. The policy environment currently favours that outcome, and there is little indication it will change soon.

The question is no longer whether casino brands belong in Irish football sponsorship. They are already here, and they have been for several seasons. The question now is whether the league can build alternative revenue strong enough to make them optional rather than essential.

So far, the answer is no.

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2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Wednesday TV coverage

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The 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur begins Wednesday morning with the first round at Champions Retreat in Georgia. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Wednesday, including full Augusta National Women’s Amateur TV coverage, streaming info and Round 1 tee times.

How to watch ANWA on Wednesday

American amateur star Asterisk Talley is only 17 years old, but she’s already become a fixture at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. First, she finished 8th in her ANWA debut in 2024. Then last year, Talley came oh-so-close to claiming the title, finishing one shot short of 2025 ANWA champion Carla Bernat Escuder.

Now ranked No. 10 in the women’s world amateur ranking, Talley is hoping this week’s event sees her finally lift the tophy on Saturday at Augusta National.

But first, Talley and the rest of the 72-player field, which features two former Augusta National Women’s Amateur winners, have to contest the first and second rounds at Champions Retreat to earn the right to compete at Augusta this weekend.

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And the action gets started Wednesday morning with Round 1.

You can watch the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on TV via Golf Channel, which will air coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. You can also watch a live simulcast Golf Channel’s TV coverage via ANWA.com.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the first round of the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

How to watch on TV Wednesday

Golf Channel will air first-round TV coverage of the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Wednesday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET.

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How to stream online Wednesday

You can stream the first round of the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur via Peacock and ANWA.com, both of which will offer live simulcasts of Golf Channel’s Wednesday TV coverage.

2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Round 1 tee times for Wednesday (ET)

Tee No. 1

8:00 a.m. – Brooke Biermann, Ai Goto, Emily Odwin
8:12 a.m. – Rocio Tejedo, Catherine Rao, Charlotte Back
8:23 a.m. – Grace Kilcrease, Vanessa Borovilos, Yurina Hiroyoshi
8:35 a.m. – Huai-Chien Hsu, Catherine Park, Dianna Lee
8:46 a.m. – Nikki Oh, Raegan Denton, Elise Lee
8:58 a.m. – Seojin Park, Mackenzie Lee, Clarisa Temelo
9:09 a.m. – Prim Prachnakorn, Sara Brentcheneff, Chloe Kovelesky
9:21 a.m. – Amanda Sambach, Arianna Lau, Elizabeth Rudisill
9:32 a.m. – Marie Eline Madsen, Jasmine Koo, Camille Min-Gaultier
9:44 a.m. – Kiara Romero, Andrea Revuelta, Eila Galitsky
9:55 a.m. – Soomin Oh, Rianne Malixi, Megha Ganne
10:07 a.m. – Tsubasa Kajitani, Lily Reitter, Reagan Zibilski

Tee No. 10

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8:00 a.m. – Andie Smith, Eunseo Choi, Aira Nagasawa
8:12 a.m. – Paula Martin Sampedro, Maria Jose Marin, Anna Davis
8:23 a.m. – Patience Rhodes, Asterisk Talley, Aphrodite Deng
8:35 a.m. – Megan Streicher, Megan Propeck, Kary Hollenbaugh
8:46 a.m. – Avery Weed, Veronika Kedronova, Beth Coulter
8:58 a.m. – Louise Landgraf, Karen Tsuru, Katelyn Kong
9:09 a.m. – Bailey Shoemaker, Gyubeen Kim, Amelie Zalsman
9:21 a.m. – Anna Fang, Anna Iwanaga, Ava Merrill
9:32 a.m. – Ashley Yun, Macy Pate, Yunseo Yang
9:44 a.m. – Meja Örtengren, Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, Farah O’Keefe
9:55 a.m. – Scarlett Schremmer, Lauren Kim, Yujie Liu
10:07 a.m. – Kyra Ly, Achiraya Sriwong, Kelly Xu

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Arslanbek Makhmudov’s trainer talks Tyson Fury preparation and ‘landing one big shot’

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Arslanbek Makhmudov has the chance to re-establish his reputation as a man to avoid in the heavyweight division as he takes on two-time world champion Tyson Fury next weekend. After a successful training camp, his coach Marc Ramsay believes the Russian is well prepared to pull off the upset.

An amateur standout with fearsome punching power, Makhmudov had been recognised as something of a divisional boogeyman throughout much of his professional career, with many heavyweight rivals unwilling to risk a fight with the Mozdok-born contender.

That changed in December 2023, when the previously overlooked Agit Kabayel produced a stunning stoppage win in Riyadh to hand Makhmudov his first career defeat. Makhmudov bounced back with another early finish, but was then halted by Guido Vianello in August 2024 – a loss which led many to question his standing in the division.

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Since then, Makhmudov has had a point to prove, looking to show that those defeats were setbacks rather than a sign of decline, and that he remains a dangerous contender at the top level.

Recent victories over Ricardo Brown (TKO 1) and Dave Allen (UD) are his only consecutive wins since suffering that first defeat and, ahead of a fight with Fury – who returns from a 16-month retirement – Makhmudov appears to have regained his confidence.

Speaking exclusively to Boxing News, head trainer Marc Ramsay admitted that the opportunity to face ‘The Gypsy King’ came as a surprise, but one that the 36-year-old simply had to take.

“Everything is going very good. We have had a very good training camp here in Montreal, lots of different sparring partners and a lot of challenges. To be honest, this is a fun fight for us, it is a fight that we didn’t expect at all.

“We are going there to challenge, we have no pressure, nothing to lose, just everything to gain. We can feel an atmosphere in the training camp, we are enjoying this moment.”

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“We have already fought good boxers, but after the last win with Arslanbek, we created a little bit of publicity. We didn’t expect a fight like this. They offered us the fight and it was a no-brainer for us – especially with the age of Arslanbek, we want to go and try for real.”

Ramsay also noted a renewed sense of motivation in camp.

“The motivation is better. Arslanbek always has a good work ethic but you can feel that extra push from the team and from the boxer.”

This will be Makhmudov’s second fight on British soil in six months, having outpointed Allen over 12 rounds in Sheffield in October 2024 – the first time he had gone the distance.

Continuing, Ramsay highlighted that the fight with Allen was ideal preparation for this clash with Fury, allowing Makhmudov to experience being the away fighter and deal with a hostile and vocal UK crowd.

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“That Dave Allen fight was a really good experience and I found that as a coach myself. You can talk about the feeling of the crowd in the U.K., but you have to live it to understand exactly what it is and how passionate the fans are.

“To go there, to win there, to feel the atmosphere was fantastic. We understand that there is going to be a big crowd again, but it is about preparing the boxer mentally for those things.”

“[It was also] the first time reaching 12 rounds. We focused a lot on that in sparring during training camp. Even for 10-round fights in the past, we always prepare for 12.

“But to do that in the gym every day and to do it in competition are two different things and I am very happy that he has had that experience before we go into this kind of fight.”

Preparing for Tyson Fury, however, brings its own challenges. Standing at 6’9” with a unique style, the Brit is difficult to replicate in sparring, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his form after a lengthy lay-off.

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Ramsay explained that the approach has been to break Fury down into individual attributes and replicate them collectively in camp.

“You cannot find sparring partners who are going to be that good – Fury is at the top of the division. What you need to do is isolate a little bit of the technique he brings, a little bit of the size, and with a couple of sparring partners you can work on those qualities. That is the way to prepare for this kind of challenge.

“He could be a little bit rusty, but we have to prepare for the best version of Tyson Fury that we have seen. We have looked at almost all of his fights as a professional and we expect him to show his quality.

“He already looks leaner than he did for his fights with Ngannou and Usyk, so I believe he will show up in good shape and we are prepared for him.”

Despite Fury reportedly training himself for his return, Ramsay has no issue with that approach.

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“I have no problem with that. A lot of people speak against it, but with the experience he has, he knows what he is doing.

“Sometimes we overanalyse the role of a coach. Of course, he will have people around him to help with certain things, but we are focused on what we are doing here in Montreal, not on what he is doing.”

For the fight itself, many believe Makhmudov’s best chance lies in his power, particularly early on. Seventeen of his 19 knockouts have come inside the opening three rounds, and Fury could be vulnerable before settling into the contest.

Ramsay, however, insists that Makhmudov’s power will be present throughout.

“Arslanbek can carry his power deep into the fight. He can generate it early, but also in rounds eight, nine, ten – it is not a problem.

“He has the experience to manage things round by round, but at some point we are looking to land that shot – and we have plenty of time to do it in a 12-round fight.”

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Team Makhmudov will travel to London this weekend as they prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime, hoping to make a major statement in the heavyweight division – and force further questions about Fury’s future in the sport.

Fury-Makhmudov takes place on Saturday, April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis set to feature as co-main event on the Netflix-broadcast card.

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Watch: Rishabh Pant giggles after freak dismissal ends opening gamble in LSG vs DC | Cricket News

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Watch: Rishabh Pant giggles after freak dismissal ends opening gamble in LSG vs DC
Rishabh Pant dismissal in LSG vs DC (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant endured a frustrating start to his opening experiment as Lucknow Super Giants took on Delhi Capitals in their first IPL 2026 clash on Wednesday, with a bizarre run-out cutting short his innings.The incident unfolded in the third over when Mukesh Kumar delivered a full ball that Mitchell Marsh struck firmly back towards the bowler. Mukesh got a fingertip to the ball in his follow-through, inadvertently deflecting it onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

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Angkrish Raghuvanshi focused only on team’s wins

Pant, who had backed up too far, was caught well short of his crease with no chance of recovery. Visibly disappointed, he walked off without waiting for the third umpire’s confirmation after scoring 7 off 9 balls.Watch:Pant’s early dismissal dealt a blow to LSG’s strategy, as the team had opted to promote him to the top in a bold tactical move. The wicket also validated Delhi’s decision to bowl first after Axar Patel won the toss, expecting assistance from the fresh surface.Earlier, Axar explained the call, citing potential help for bowlers in the powerplay despite data favouring teams batting first. Delhi fielded a balanced XI featuring the likes of KL Rahul, David Miller and Kuldeep Yadav, while LSG relied on a strong overseas core including Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Anrich Nortje.Adding to the talking points, Arjun Tendulkar remained absent from both the playing XI and the bench despite being part of LSG’s squad this season.With Pant’s gamble backfiring early, the contest quickly tilted in Delhi’s favour in the opening exchanges.

LSG vs DC Playing XI

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Mohsin Khan, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje, Prince YadavLucknow Super Giants Impact subs: Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akshat RaghuvanshiDelhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi,Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh KumarDelhi Capitals Impact subs: Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair

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Wayne Rooney sheds light on issues with Bukayo Saka as Arsenal chase PL title

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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has been under immense pressure this season. He said that the winger has struggled, partially because of being the captain.

Saka has been a key player for the Gunners since graduating from their academy. The 24-year-old has made 305 senior appearances for them, scoring 79 goals and providing 78 assists. However, he’s struggled this season with nine goals and seven assists in 42 games.

Wayne Rooney believes it could be because Saka is under pressure to deliver Arsenal their first major trophy since 2020. He said on the BBC (h/t Metro):

“Do you know what? You need to look at the pressure on Bukayo Saka, especially as he’s been captain for a lot of the season with Martin Odegaard being injured. That pressure to win trophies, given where Arsenal have been, that can tally up and make it difficult for you.”

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“He has struggled this season but he’s a fantastic player and he’s been brilliant. He’s played a lot of games as well in his career. I think we all know there’s more there,” he added.

Odegaard has played 27 games across competitions for the Gunners this season, with Saka being the captain in his absence.


Pundit backs Arsenal star Bukayo Saka to start for England at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Bukayo Saka’s struggles this season have also translated to his performances at the international level. He has one goal and one assist in the last three games for England. He didn’t feature in their friendlies this month.

Hence, there is speculation about his place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, Alan Smith believes the Arsenal man will beat competition on the right wing to start for the Three Lions, saying (h/t Metro):

“It’s not been the best, has it, for him? He’s set such high standards. But he’s always done well for England. He knows what it’s about. He’s got great tournament experience and he’s done well in tournaments.”

“So it would take a lot I think for Tuchel to drop him. Plus the fact he hasn’t really got anybody you’d say, oh no, he should be in ahead of him. Jarrod Bowen plays on the right. Noni Madueke, his clubmate. But I still think Saka’s in the box seat comfortably, really,” he added.

Overall, the Arsenal winger has scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 48 games for England.

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