Football clubs "will be banned from signing shirt sponsorship deals with betting companies under a Labour government," as the party pledges to tackle a "hidden epidemic" of addiction and protect children from "early exposure to gambling," according to Rob Davies of the London GUARDIAN. The policy, unveiled by Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson, "is understood to be the first of a series of proposals to curb the power of gambling firms, ramping up pressure on the government" ahead of its own review of the industry. Watson, who is also the U.K. shadow culture secretary, said that a Labour government would encourage the FA to "implement its own ban but was prepared to legislate if necessary." Watson said, "Football has to play its part in tackling Britain's hidden epidemic of gambling addiction. Shirt sponsorship sends out a message that football clubs don't take problem gambling among their own fans seriously enough. It puts gambling brands in front of fans of all ages, not just at matches but on broadcasts and highlights packages on both commercial television and the BBC" (GUARDIAN, 9/6). In London, Luke Brown reported currently, nine of the 20 clubs in the Premier League have shirt sponsorship deals with gambling companies. While only Bet365, which sponsors Stoke City, and BetWay, which sponsors West Ham, target the U.K. betting market, "there has been a recent rise in investment from foreign bookmakers." Companies such as SportPesa, ManBetX, Fun88, LeTou, M88, Dafabet and Ope Sports -- "brands not especially well-known" in the U.K. -- are seen on TVs every weekend, during the "segments of football that break up the adverts for British bookmakers" (INDEPENDENT, 9/6). The BBC reported gambling on football was worth a record £1.4B to bookmakers over a 12-month period, figures revealed in May. Remote Gambling Association CEO Clive Hawkswood said that the industry was "waiting for the government's proposals after the publication of this review." He said that the association was "mindful" of the issues around advertising and young people "but questioned what a blanket ban on shirt sponsorship would achieve" (BBC, 9/6). EPL clubs with shirts sponsored by betting firms include Bournemouth (M88), Burnley (Dafabet), Crystal Palace (ManBetX), Everton (SportPesa), Newcastle United (Fun88), Stoke City (Bet365), Swansea City (Letou), Watford (138.com) and West Ham (Betway).
