Premier League Clubs Risk Legal Action Over Online Casino Sponsors

Six Premier League clubs are potentially facing legal action due to their shirt sponsorship agreements with companies accepting UK customers without valid licenses. The operators in question include BC.Game (Leicester City), BJ88 (Bournemouth), SBOTOP (Fulham), Sportsbet.io, Fun88 (Newcastle United), Debet (Wolverhampton Wanderers), and 96.com (Burnley).

### The Licensing Controversy

These companies are online casinos that previously held licenses through TGP Europe in the UK. However, BC.Game severed ties with TGP Europe in December, leaving it unlicensed in the UK for over six months. TGP Europe facilitated licenses for various offshore operators via white label agreements, which allowed these businesses to operate under a rented license.

This licensing structure has faced increasing scrutiny. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has been criticized for its limited oversight of firms receiving white label licenses. In 2023, the Commission fined TGP Europe £316,250 for failures in anti-money laundering (AML) protocols and social responsibility, particularly concerning inadequate due diligence on its white-label partners. Despite the fine, ongoing operations led to a larger penalty of £3.3 million earlier this month, which ultimately resulted in TGP Europe exiting the UK market and leaving its partners without valid UK gambling licenses.

### Ongoing Acceptance of UK Customers

The Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) reported to Sky News that they were able to make deposits on the aforementioned gambling websites, despite the lack of valid licenses. CEGA Director Will Prochaska noted that accessing these sites was straightforward; a simple VPN was sufficient to bypass regulations. He remarked, “In fact, it was one of the easiest for me to gamble on – there were very few checks whatsoever.”

Leicester City has not taken action regarding its sponsorship with BC.Game, even as the club navigates financial challenges following relegation to the Championship. The team, having signed a two-year deal with BC.Game valued at £30 million last summer, now finds itself in a precarious situation, as the partnership remains unaltered despite BC.Game’s bankruptcy in Curacao last November.

### Cryptocurrency: A Regulatory Challenge

The Sky News investigation revealed that the team could establish accounts with all six operators and access QR codes for cryptocurrency deposits. Crypto betting platforms frequently evade regulatory scrutiny due to their inherent anonymity, compounded by VPN use, making it difficult for authorities to track transactions effectively.

The UK Gambling Commission previously cautioned football clubs about the potential legal repercussions of promoting unlicensed gambling operations, stating they “may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment, or both.”

Sky News has shared its findings with the implicated football clubs, TGP Europe, and the Gambling Commission, and is awaiting further responses. Notably, the Premier League plans to implement a ban on gambling shirt sponsorships starting from the 2026-27 season, amidst growing concerns surrounding partnerships with offshore or unlicensed operators. For example, Everton FC prominently features Stake as their sponsor, despite its own lack of a UK license.

### Conclusion

The situation surrounding Premier League clubs and their sponsorships with unlicensed gambling operators underscores the pressing need for robust regulatory frameworks in the gambling industry. As the landscape continues to evolve, stakeholders must remain vigilant to ensure compliance and safeguard consumers.

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