Season › 2022-23 › Opinion › Talking Points Premier League clubs will vote to voluntarily ban gambling sponsorship by Barry Hesketh | 18/07/2022 7 Comments [Jump to last] This might be a bit awkward for Everton, given they've only recently signed a deal with a betting partner? The Premier League clubs are ready to agree to a voluntary ban on shirt sponsorship by betting companies but subject to certain conditions and a transition period.The proposal is to be discussed at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting next week and club sources have told The Times that there is enough support for it to be passed — it needs agreement from 14 of the 20 top-flight teams to go through.The clubs are expected to take the action to fend off the threat of the government bringing in legislation that would make shirt sponsorship by betting firms illegal. It is understood that ministers are not looking at similar action for clubs in the EFL due to the financial hardship it would cause. None of the ‘big six’ clubs have gambling shirt sponsors at the moment but seven of the 20 teams do, with Nottingham Forest and Fulham still to confirm their shirt deals after promotion.However, the 20 clubs are expected to delay any vote until September when the political picture is clearer. The government has postponed a white paper on gambling reform until a successor to Boris Johnson takes over as prime minister.The clubs will however insist that the voluntary ban would only affect front-of-shirt sponsorship deals and not sleeve deals. They would also want it to be phased in over three seasons so that those clubs who already have deals in place are not directly affected.There is also expected to be pressure from the top-flight clubs that the voluntary ban is recognised by government as likely to cause a financial dip and that it should be taken into account in the negotiations over the amount of money the Premier League should give to the EFL. Article continues below video content One club executive said that betting companies often were the most lucrative sponsorship partners and the quickest for newly promoted clubs to secure deals with, and that agreeing to drop them would mean a likely income cut of £5 million to £10 million per season.Newcastle United are understood to be planning to drop Fun88 as their shirt sponsor at the end of next season and are not planning to seek another betting company. However, Everton announced a club record “multi-year” deal with gambling company Stake.com in June, reportedly worth more than £10 million a season, two years after their chief executive said that “in an ideal world” they wouldn’t have a betting firm on their shirts.Source: The Times Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments » Reader Comments (7) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Mike Gaynes 1 Posted 18/07/2022 at Barry, if my math is correct, then at least three of the nine clubs currently sponsored by betting firms (none of them top 6) will vote to take money out of their own pockets by passing this measure. And of course all the clubs in the SkyBet Championship will be exempted. Ralph Basnett 2 Posted 19/07/2022 at So we get new sponsors on our best deal ever only to lose it and grab a second rate sponsor for less.Then, to rub salt in the wound, we sell a few of the horrible away shirts and have to replace free because we change sponsors.Welcome to Everton, the money pit!!!! Christine Foster 3 Posted 19/07/2022 at Can't say I am surprised really. I don't think it fits with the values of EitC either but the cynic in me looks at it and wonders why, after so many years of betting companies on shirt sponsorship, that as soon as Everton get one, the government and every man and his dog wants it banned. I know it's a perception but it does feel like we must be a red rag to the moral majority... it's almost laughable. Infamy, infamy, they all have it infamy! Jim Bennings 4 Posted 20/07/2022 at Clubs should just have a random logo on the front of their shirts.Something to reflect on the clubs history, maybe we should have the Rupert's Tower or something along those lines.But it's all about money isn't it. Colin Glassar 5 Posted 20/07/2022 at I’m happy getting rid of all forms of shirt sponsors. The name and number on the back of the shirt is enough imo. Ralph Basnett 6 Posted 20/07/2022 at Some great ideas here, let’s get rid of sponsorships!!!Hike the price of season tickets up to pay for overpaid players and everyone a winner. Alan J Thompson 7 Posted 21/07/2022 at Smoking, alcohol, gambling, fast food outlets, Putin supporters and then we can move onto countries under paying World Cup workers or murdering journalists, lying car manufacturers and corrupt footballing organizations. It might be easier to take a vote on what is acceptable and at what level and if allowance should be made as per loss of opportunity and income due to Covid. Let's get it all out of the way in one go. No? I thought not. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW Find out how to browse ad-free and support ToffeeWeb © ToffeeWeb