Betting giant Entain has made a bold move, sending official communication to the leadership of ten Premier League clubs urging an immediate reassessment and termination of contracts with offshore betting brands that lack UK licences. This call to action coincides with the conclusion of consultations from the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport regarding the legitimacy of these sponsorship agreements.
The clubs targeted in Entain’s letters include Fulham, Everton, Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace. These teams currently collaborate with brands such as SBOTOP, Stake, 8XBet, FUN88, VSBet, and Chexx.bet.
Of particular concern is Everton and its sponsorship deal with Stake. Charles Kovach, Entain's Deputy General Counsel, highlighted that this contract serves as a disguised stamp of legitimacy for a company operating without legal grounds in the UK, undermining social and ethical interests in the country's welfare.
Kovach stressed that Everton’s partnership with Stake stands in stark contrast to the stance of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, an outspoken critic of unlicensed gambling operators who has long supported the club. He stated it is inconceivable for the head of government to become a billboard for illegal gambling while wearing the colours of a beloved team.
Entain also expressed concerns regarding 8XBet, which sponsors five clubs in the league. Internal tests revealed that users in the UK can easily bypass regional restrictions using a VPN, create accounts under false pretences—including the name of the Prime Minister—and deposit cryptocurrency within minutes. The illegal betting market already holds 9% of the UK's online gambling market, valued at £8.2 billion ($11.1 billion). Entain insists that clubs must cease promoting these grey platforms before stringent laws come into effect.
