English football gambling advertising and sponsorship ban bill veto
An amendment aimed at banning gambling sponsorships and advertisements in English football has been decisively rejected during a recent debate in the House of Lords regarding the UK’s forthcoming Football Governance Bill.
On March 17, the House of Lords voted against the amendment with a substantial majority of 339 to 74. This amendment, proposed in the latest iteration of the Football Governance Bill, was part of an ongoing debate focused on the regulatory oversight of football in the UK.
Initially introduced in October, the Football Governance Bill aspires to establish an independent regulator to oversee the sport, particularly addressing club licensing and financial stability. The bill successfully navigated through the committee and report stages earlier in March and has been under discussion for the past two weeks.
The proposed clause to ban gambling-related advertising and sponsorship was introduced by Liberal Democrat Lord Addington during the latest amendment phase. His amendment declared that, “English football must not promote or engage in advertising or sponsorship related to gambling.” It also recommended that the newly proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) should implement a phased elimination of gambling sponsorships once established.
Despite the intention of this amendment, it failed to pass, being rejected by a vote of 339 to 74 in the House of Lords session held yesterday.
House of Lords Rejects Gambling Ad Ban
During an initial discussion of his amendment on March 11, Lord Addington emphasized that gambling advertising has “grown out of all recognition,” suggesting that the current landscape of gambling promotion in football has reached an unacceptable level. He urged fellow members of Parliament to take decisive action, describing the situation as “ridiculous.”
In opposition, Baroness Fox of Buckley expressed concerns that removing gambling sponsorship would disproportionately harm financially vulnerable clubs, which often rely on such funding sources. “Why would we cut off a perfectly legitimate source of funding in the form of lucrative sponsorship?” she questioned, arguing against the financial implications of the proposed ban.
Baroness Fox further indicated that establishing a ban could politicize the role of the regulator, stating, “Any discriminatory treatment of the gambling industry as potential sponsors would suggest a moralistic and politically charged decision-making process regarding sponsorship legitimacy.”
Echoing these sentiments, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay acknowledged the amendment’s potential to complicate issues the bill was not originally intended to address. He cautioned against the unintended consequences such regulation could impose.
Baroness Twycross, the UK’s minister for gambling and the sponsorship of the bill, recognized the necessity of scrutinizing gambling sponsorship in football. However, she maintained that the government has already tasked the gambling industry with raising standards to ensure that such advertisements remain “proportionate and appropriate.”
Notably, the Premier League has initiated measures to limit gambling’s visibility in football; it has proposed that betting companies be removed from the front of team jerseys, a decision scheduled to take effect in the 2026-2027 season. Baroness Twycross reiterated the government’s position, stating, “The football regulator should not engage in determining commercial matters like advertising and sponsorship, which should rightfully be left to the clubs.” She underscored that English clubs rely heavily on the vital revenue generated through sponsorships and advertising from gambling entities.
What’s Next for the Bill?
The next phase for the Football Governance Bill involves transitioning to the House of Commons for its first and second readings. Following these readings, the bill will proceed to the committee and report stages, concluding with a third reading and consideration of any final amendments prior to a decisive vote in the Commons.
