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Topics: Premier League
Josh Lawless
The Premier League has announced that clubs will be banned from having gambling companies as their sponsors on matchday shirts.
Currently eight teams playing in the top flight have the logos of gambling businesses on the front of their strips, including the likes of Newcastle, West Ham and Everton.
However, after rumours swirled that the league were cracking down, it has been confirmed that gambling will not be promoted in the way it currently is going forward.
Sleeve sponsorship is still permitted but it represents an unprecedented move from the Premier League, who are the sports league in the United Kingdom to implement such a rule.
It will not come in effective immediately due to ongoing sponsorship agreements but will instead occur at the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign.
A statement from the Premier League read: "The announcement follows an extensive consultation involving the League, its clubs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the Government’s ongoing review of current gambling legislation.
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"The Premier League is also working with other sports on the development of a new code for responsible gambling sponsorship.
"To assist clubs with their transition away from shirt-front gambling sponsorship, the collective agreement will begin at the end of the 2025/26 season."
Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Leeds United and Southampton are also sponsored by gambling companies and will need to be on the hunt for a new primary sponsor.
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It's believed that branding advertising gambling at stadiums will still be allowed. Clubs "collectively agreed" on the new measure, which coincides with the government's review into gambling legislation.
The EFL, the three leagues below the Premier League, are currently sponsored by Sky Bet - though there has been pressure from gambling charities to end the arrangement.
A report from The Times says the EFL are unlikely to adopt the same approach as a ban would cost its 72 members £40 million a year.