It is understood that with the UK government set to crackdown on unlicensed betting firms, bans are likely to be imposed for those that have a sponsorship agreement in place with football clubs in England, including the Premier League.
We agree with DCMS Secretary @lisanandy: it’s not right that gambling companies without a UK licence can sponsor Premier League clubs.
If an operator wants the visibility and credibility of English football, they should meet the high regulatory standards set here in the UK.…
— Betting and Gaming Council (@BetGameCouncil) February 23, 2026
Ministers are reportedly worried that betting firms operating in the UK without a licence are not adhering to the required regulation and compliance measures in place and, as a result of this, it could lead to more vulnerable people being hooked into gambling.
There is a suggestion that many unlicensed operators do not follow laws and guidelines including financial vulnerability checks and responsible advertising policies aimed at protecting customers.
A lack of data protection measures, the government warns, can also leave people victims of identity theft and fraud, due to a lack of data protection measures, with some unlicensed betting firms reportedly linked to organised crime.
Multiple Clubs Warned
Last year, numerous football clubs were handed a warning from the UK Gambling Commission over their relationship with TG Europe, a gambling company with several unlicensed betting websites, following an investigation that found they had failed to carry out a number of sufficient checks on business partners and were found to be in breach of anti-money laundering legislation.
As such, Bournemouth, Wolves, Newcastle United, Fulham and Burnley (then a Championship side) all had sponsorship agreements in place with brands belonging to the company.
Furthermore, clubs also received a letter that warned they may be subject to prosecution should they promote a gambling company which transacts with customers in Great Britain, that do not have a UK gambling licence.
With a consultation due this spring, it is understood that Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy revealed that people who place bets have a right to know whether or not, the sites that they are using, are properly regulated, have the relevant protection measures in place and are licensed by the UKGC.
“It’s not right that unlicensed gambling operators can sponsor some of our biggest football clubs, raising their profile and potentially drawing fans towards sites that don’t meet our regulatory standards,” she explained.
Could More Gambling Firms Withdraw From The UK Market?
In recent months, the UK government has already implemented significant changes to its gambling industry, that was generating a eye-watering £4 billion for its coffers in taxation.
However, with steep increases in taxes set to soon be imposed, in addition to previous initiatives regarding stricter legislation, it has led to the withdrawal of several gambling companies including the aforementioned TG Europe.
With the UK government seemingly cracking down on the gambling industry across the board, it may lead to many more leaving the UK market, which would have a significat impact on the revenue generation for the UK government.
However, one thing we can be sure of is that football clubs that are partnered with unlicensed betting firms, will likely face punishment in the form of heavy fines or even a sanction that prevents them from partnering with gambling companies again.
From the start of next season, clubs will also be banned from advertising gambling companies across the front of their football kits.