UK Gambling Watchdog Warns Premier League Clubs Over Unlicensed Betting Sponsors

The UK Gambling Commission has issued a warning to three Premier League clubs—Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City—regarding the risks of promoting unlicensed gambling operators through their shirt sponsorships.

The move follows the regulator’s decision to revoke the gambling license of Stake.uk.com, operated by TGP Europe Ltd. The platform is set to cease operations in Britain by March 11. Everton currently features Stake.com as its front-of-shirt sponsor, while Nottingham Forest and Leicester City have similar agreements with online betting platforms Kaiyun and BC Game, respectively.

In its warning, the commission emphasized that club officials could face financial penalties or even imprisonment if they are found guilty of promoting gambling businesses that are not authorized to operate in the UK. The regulator also stated that clubs must conduct proper due diligence to ensure their sponsors do not facilitate transactions with British consumers.

A notice on BC Game’s website indicated that it had already disabled new registrations as it prepares to shut down its UK platform. While Everton declined to comment on the matter, Leicester and Nottingham Forest did not immediately respond to media inquiries. Efforts to reach Stake, Kaiyun, and BC Game were also unsuccessful.

The Premier League previously announced a collective agreement among its clubs to phase out front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships starting from the 2026-27 season.

The commission’s investigation into Stake.uk.com was reportedly triggered by a viral social media video showing the company’s logo alongside an adult actress near Nottingham Trent University. As part of the regulatory crackdown, TGP has committed to halting new sign-ups on Stake.uk.com and removing redirects from its main site.

With the March deadline approaching, the affected clubs now face increased scrutiny over their commercial ties to unlicensed gambling operators.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / jorono