Ban betting sponsors in the EFL
The Issue
Football clubs across the English Football League (EFL) have seen a worrying increase in partnerships with betting companies. These sponsorships are normalizing gambling within a fanbase that includes hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals, including children and young adults. It's time to take action and protect the integrity of the sport as well as the mental and financial well-being of our communities.
Recent studies have highlighted the troubling link between sports betting and problem gambling. According to the Gambling Commission, an estimated 340,000 adults in England are classified as problem gamblers, with an additional 1.9 million individuals at risk. These statistics are alarming, and the involvement of betting sponsors in sports only furthers the potential for harm.
Betting advertisements are pervasive during matches, appearing on club jerseys, stadium banners, and digital platforms. This omnipresence makes it nearly impossible for fans, especially impressionable youth, to avoid exposure to gambling promotions. It places undue pressure on individuals who may be struggling with gambling addiction or who are trying to avoid falling prey to it.
Several countries have taken proactive steps to distance sports from gambling companies. Italy, for example, enacted a complete ban on gambling advertisements in 2019. Following the Premier League’s decision to ban betting sponsors from the 2026–27 season onward, the EFL and the rest of the country should follow suit.
Football should be about the love of the game, passion, and community spirit, not about pushing risky betting behavior. We call on the EFL to sever ties with betting companies and replace these sponsorships with ethical partners that promote positive values and contribute meaningfully to the sporting community.
Teams in the EFL with a betting sponsor for 2026–27:
- Birmingham City (Coral)
- Middlesbrough (Midnite)
- Queens Park Rangers (Mr Q)
- Sheffield United (Midnite)
- Stoke City (bet365)
- West Ham United (BoyleSports)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (Midnite)
- Leicester City (BC.GAME)
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The Issue
Football clubs across the English Football League (EFL) have seen a worrying increase in partnerships with betting companies. These sponsorships are normalizing gambling within a fanbase that includes hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals, including children and young adults. It's time to take action and protect the integrity of the sport as well as the mental and financial well-being of our communities.
Recent studies have highlighted the troubling link between sports betting and problem gambling. According to the Gambling Commission, an estimated 340,000 adults in England are classified as problem gamblers, with an additional 1.9 million individuals at risk. These statistics are alarming, and the involvement of betting sponsors in sports only furthers the potential for harm.
Betting advertisements are pervasive during matches, appearing on club jerseys, stadium banners, and digital platforms. This omnipresence makes it nearly impossible for fans, especially impressionable youth, to avoid exposure to gambling promotions. It places undue pressure on individuals who may be struggling with gambling addiction or who are trying to avoid falling prey to it.
Several countries have taken proactive steps to distance sports from gambling companies. Italy, for example, enacted a complete ban on gambling advertisements in 2019. Following the Premier League’s decision to ban betting sponsors from the 2026–27 season onward, the EFL and the rest of the country should follow suit.
Football should be about the love of the game, passion, and community spirit, not about pushing risky betting behavior. We call on the EFL to sever ties with betting companies and replace these sponsorships with ethical partners that promote positive values and contribute meaningfully to the sporting community.
Teams in the EFL with a betting sponsor for 2026–27:
- Birmingham City (Coral)
- Middlesbrough (Midnite)
- Queens Park Rangers (Mr Q)
- Sheffield United (Midnite)
- Stoke City (bet365)
- West Ham United (BoyleSports)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (Midnite)
- Leicester City (BC.GAME)
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Petition created on 28 July 2026