The UK may soon follow the trend to ban gambling company logos on football shirts that is evident in Spain and Italy.
According to yesterday’s Daily Telegraph national newspaper, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is increasingly likely to ban gambling firm sponsors on football jerseys by this autumn. It said that the move reflects growing concern in government circles about gambling addiction.
The sector is now under review in the UK, with submissions of evidence set to expire in March. The newspaper says that reform is likely to happen. It suggests that two-thirds of the British public support a ban on football shirt advertising by betting companies.
Said Labour MP Carolyn Harris, a member of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling harm: “For me, it is about common sense prevailing over greed, because these football clubs have alternative ways to be funded.”
A study noted that during the first lockdown when sport was suspended, 17.3 per cent of male and 16.6 per cent of female sports bettors began to bet on new activities, including online slots, which it said had a higher incidence of addiction.
Half of the Premier League teams and 16 out of 24 in the Championship had betting partners last season.
