Premier League teams won't be allowed gambling sponsors on the front of their shirts next season

Premier League clubs are set to agree to BAN gambling companies as sponsors on the front of their shirts.

Eight top flight clubs in England have gambling shirt sponsors, including Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham United.

The proposal will be discussed in a shareholders' meeting on Thursday and it is expected that the clubs will support the move in order to avoid government legislation banning gambling advertising completely.

Gambling companies will be banned from appearing as a front-of-shirt sponsor, but sleeve deals will still be permitted. Branding inside the stadium will also be allowed.

Bruno Guimaraes in action for Newcastle United. Image: Alamy

A final vote on the gambling sponsorship may be put off until the Premier League's summer meeting in June.

But the consensus is that the majority of teams would support the proposal providing a three-year transition period is permitted.

The Times report: "A white paper on gambling is due to be published by the government next month but ministers have signalled that it will not include shirt sponsorship restrictions if the voluntary agreement is reached."

Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham, Leeds United and Southampton also have front-of-shirt gambling sponsors so if the ruling is passed, then they will need new sponsors.

Tomas Soucek in action for West Ham United. Image: Alamy

Newcastle and Fulham, however, see their gambling deals with their respective companies expire at the end of the season.

The report also states that one unnamed Premier League club revealed that if the proposal does come into effect, then they would be potentially missing out on as much as £10 million per season.

The EFL, which is sponsored by Sky Bet, is not expected to follow in the Premier League's footsteps, with the league previously claiming that any ban would cost its 72 members £40 million a year.