Minister: Addicted football clubs need to wean themselves off gambling sponsors – inews

NewsBusiness'We're going to be reviewing the current Gambling Act and I'm sure the link between sports, football in particular will form a part of that'

Saturday, 25th January 2020, 11:01 am

Football is tied to its dependency on gambling like an addiction, the UK sports minister has said.

Nigel Adams said there was "far too much dependency" on sponsorship and deals with gambling companies.

And he warned that clubs need to look at new income streams to help wean them off the betting industry.

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He also said he had meet EFL chairman Rick Parry to talk about financial problems in the lower leagues.

Mr Adams said: "We're going to be reviewing the current Gambling Act and I'm sure the link between sports - football in particular - will form a part of that."

Betting criticism

He was speaking in a BBC interview after the FA came under criticism for selling the live streaming rights to gambling organisations.

Under the betting industry's deal for FA Cup live streams, seven gambling websites were able to show some third round matches to anyone who placed a bet or put a deposit in their account in the day before match weekend.

The controversy stoked fears that the sport is a being used as a tool to normalise gambling.

In one publicity stunt Hudddersfield Town wore a kit with its bookmaker sponsor logo so large it broke advertising rules.

Mr Adams said: "We have to look at this very carefully because problem gambling leads to serious social problems, and in some cases people have done drastic things and taken their lives, so we are looking at this very closely.

"Occasionally it boils over and you get incidents like you had with some clubs who get into bother over it, like at Huddersfield Town, and the stunt there.

"So there's way too much dependency, and I'm sure the football authorities are aware of that."

'Responsible manner'

About half of the clubs in the premiership and 15 in the Championship have betting firm sponsors, and the Football League is sponsored by Sky Bet.

The EFL said it believes the gambling industry should make "a financial contribution back into football".

"This is currently being achieved through commercial partnerships with the EFL and a number of our member clubs.

"However, it is important that such arrangements are delivered in a responsible manner.

"With more than 40m a season paid by the sector to the League and its clubs, it continues to be an important part of the EFL's financial model alongside a domestic broadcasting deal worth 119m a year and a number of other key revenue streams including ticketing, sponsorship and negotiated solidarity payments achieved through the sale of media rights."

Some anti-gambling campaigners want a ban on betting companies being shirt sponsors.

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Minister: Addicted football clubs need to wean themselves off gambling sponsors - inews