League One side Luton Town CEO Gary Sweet took a stand by turning down an estimated £1M ($1.26M) of sponsorship from gambling companies, according to Tom Witherow of the London DAILY MAIL. Sweet, who has three children, said that it makes him "uncomfortable" if young fans see pro-gambling messages. He added that the club’s decision was "swayed by a board member whose friend killed himself after becoming addicted to gambling." Nine out of 20 teams in the Premier League and 17 of 24 in League Championship have gambling firms featured on their club shirts this season. Sweet said, "That's the most impressionable age when you remember the sponsor. When I was growing up at that age, I remember the dates when the sponsorships changed -- that's our major concern." Luton Town makes £500,000 ($628,000) a year in sponsorship as part of its total £8M ($10M) turnover. This season, the club has different sponsors for its three kits -- property lettings firm Indigo Residential, commercial energy broker Northern Gas & Power and industrial hire company Star Platforms (DAILY MAIL, 12/7).
