A group of 20 EFL and non-league clubs has called for a total ban on gambling advertising in football.
After Easter, ministers will evaluate gambling laws and are expected to publish their proposed changes following the holiday. One of the possibilities under consideration is a ban on betting firms being front-of-shirt sponsors.
The main reason behind this is the fact that the majority of the respondents in the Gambling Commission’s 2020 survey (76%) stated that they saw gambling ads on the telly.
The EFL’s top officials have spoken out against the potential modification, stating that their cash-strapped clubs need gambling company income.
However, four clubs – Luton, Bolton, Tranmere, and Forest Green – along with other organizations such as Barnsley and Walsall wrote a letter to the government on Thursday ‘to dispute the notion that football is reliant on gambling advertising revenue.’
“A ban on gambling logos on shirts would be a significant step in acknowledging the harm done, but we advise you to include all gambling advertising in stadiums and competition sponsorship so that every young fan can attend any football game – home or away – free of promotional inducements”.
“It appears that our fans, players, and audience agrees with our stand, with the main barrier being the financial impact on clubs.”