Club football in the UK has seen many industries fork out millions per year in sponsorships deals, especially with the top teams. With the online casino and sports betting sector becoming more massive, top UK football teams, including premier league teams, are beginning to enter these deals with them.
Although some partnerships have been truncated, we still have quite a few going strong. In that case, let’s look at some of the top four UK football teams with online casinos and sports betting site sponsorships.
Everton and SportPesa
Everton is one of the current Premier League teams with sponsorship deals from a casino and sports betting platform. The club entered into its first agreement with SportsPesa in 2017 and has since remained its number one football-sponsored team. SportPesa is one of the many off-shore gambling firms looking to have a foothold in the UK market.
The sponsorship deal has been slated to last for five years, and even though the actual amount of the agreement is never disclosed, Liverpool Echo believes it is worth around £10m a year.
As a result, it is described as the biggest in the club’s 100+ years history. As a result, SportPesa is one of the first African-based gambling firms to enter the UK.
Newcastle and Fun88
Another top-flight team in a sponsorship agreement with sports betting and casino brand is Newcastle, after initially entering a three-year deal with FUN88 in the summer of 2017.
Newcastle’s sponsorship deal is also with an off-shore betting platform. But, this time, it is with an Asian betting firm called Fun88.
The site was created in 2008, and they offer sports betting, live casinos, keno, and slot games to players around the world.
After the three-year deal, Newcastle and Fun88 continued their partnership, and it is stipulated to be around £10m per year, which beats the previous £8m per year deal with Wonga. As a result, it has been the club’s biggest sponsorship deal over the years.
Stoke City and Bet365
Bet365 is currently Stoke City’s second-longest sponsorship deal behind Britannia, which lasted from 1997 to 2012. Since 2012, Stoke City and Bet365 have been partners. The latest renewal was done in 2016.
Although the amount for the deal was never disclosed, we still think it is one of, if not the biggest in the club’s history.
Almost all professional sports betting and online casino fans know about Bet365. It is one of the biggest and oldest names in the UK and global gambling industry. It has a solid platform, and its player base is quite huge. As a result, it is pretty popular among players in the UK.
West Ham and Betway
West Ham is another Premier League with sponsorship deals from an online casino and sports betting site. In 2015, the club announced its partnership with the Malta-based gambling firm, Betway, another off-shore brand to enter the UK. At the start, the original agreement was £6m per year.
However, after 18 months, the deal was renegotiated and renewed, taking it up to £10m per year like most top-flight teams in the country. The agreement coincided with the club’s move to their new stadium at the time, giving it a perfect touch. As it stands, we could see Betway and West Ham go into a long-term partnership deal.
Final Thoughts
There have been rumours of changes to the code of conduct for casino and sports betting operations, which might see sponsorship deals cut short. The major concern is that promoting these brands affects the citizens, and more people are starting to show signs of problem gambling.
However, since there is no official statement, these teams continue to bear the names of the firms on their shirts, giving them a chance to generate more money and also promote responsible gambling.
If you notice that you are showing symptoms of gambling issues, please do well to inform the betting platform or any reputable authority near you.
