In a recent development that has garnered considerable attention, the Gambling Commission has issued a warning to four Premier League clubs regarding their partnerships with an unlicensed gambling business. The clubs implicated in this alert are Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, alongside Burnley, which has gained promotion from the Championship for the upcoming season. Each of these clubs is currently affiliated with betting websites that are operated by TGP Europe.
TGP Europe, the company in question, recently surrendered its British gambling license following a thorough investigation revealing significant lapses in its operational protocols. It was found that the firm did not conduct adequate checks on its business partners, thereby violating crucial anti-money laundering regulations that are intended to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of the gambling industry. This serious breach has led the Gambling Commission to caution the aforementioned clubs that they could potentially face prosecution if they continue to promote gambling businesses that lack the necessary licenses to engage with consumers in Great Britain.
The specific brands linked to the clubs include bj88, which sponsors Bournemouth; SBOTOP, associated with Fulham; DEBET, supporting Wolves; and 96.com, the sponsor for Burnley. In addition, Newcastle previously had FUN88, which served as its shirt sponsor until 2023, at which time it transitioned to being the club’s “official Asian betting partner.”
Officials at these clubs have been alerted to the legal ramifications of promoting unlicensed businesses, which could include severe penalties such as fines and even imprisonment. BBC Sport has reached out to the five clubs and TGP Europe for their respective comments regarding this emerging situation.
Earlier this year, in February, the Gambling Commission took similar action against Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City, which had also been associated with other TGP-operated websites that had previously lost their licenses. The gambling brands linked to these clubs—Stake for Everton, kaiyun for Nottingham Forest, and BC.GAME for Leicester—have remained visible on their shirts in the interim.
The regulatory body highlighted that TGP Europe’s license was rescinded due to an order mandating a fine of £3.3 million and the necessity for significant operational improvements for it to continue trading in Britain. The Commission emphasized a need for urgent assurance that consumers within Great Britain would not be permitted to engage with any unlicensed gambling sites. It has been noted that clubs must demonstrate the effectiveness of their efforts to block access to these sites, especially given that methods like virtual private networks can easily circumvent such restrictions.
In a letter addressed to the clubs, which has come to light through BBC Sport’s reporting, the Gambling Commission underscored the importance of maintaining legal sponsorship arrangements. The message was clear: clubs need to scrutinize their advertising partnerships to avoid potential reputational risks. They were advised to assure themselves about the legitimacy of any brands they engage with, particularly regarding the source of funding.
This situation has sparked wider conversation about gambling sponsorship in football, a pertinent subject as more than half of the teams in this season’s Premier League are sponsored by gambling companies. Clubs have consented to withdraw these gambling-based sponsorships from their matchday shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season, responding to ongoing public and regulatory pressure from organizations concerned about the impact of gambling advertising.
Will Prochaska, the Director of the Coalition to End Gambling Ads, expressed support for the action taken against TGP Europe, while critiquing Premier League clubs for their prolonged affiliation with unlicensed sites. The Gambling Commission has also noted its intent to perform random checks to ensure compliance and prevent access to unlicensed sites for British consumers.
The landscape surrounding football sponsorship is evidently complex and evolving, with ongoing dialogues about regulations and ethical considerations in the wake of gambling’s involvement in the sport.
