The United Kingdom plans to block unlicensed gambling operators from sponsoring sports teams as part of a crackdown on illegal betting, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said on Monday.
Ministers said unlicensed firms — often linked to organized crime — fail to follow consumer-protection rules against fraud, identity theft and financial harm. A public consultation on the proposed ban will launch this spring.
While the Premier League has last year pledged to remove gambling logos from the fronts of jerseys by the 2025-26 season, unlicensed companies can still place branding elsewhere, such as on sleeves. Officials said that unrestricted sponsorship can steer consumers toward sites outside the oversight of the Gambling Commission and a ban would close that loophole.
