The Premier League has reached agreement with the league’s 20 clubs to ban “withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts”.
The decision, annnounced Wednesday, makes Premier League the first sports league in the UK to take such a stand. As per the collective agreement, gambling companies that want to advertise with EPL clubs, will be limited to sponsorship on shirt sleeves.
The collective agreement will not kick into play immediately though, but “kick off” at the end of the 2025/26 season. “To assist clubs with their transition away from shirt-front gambling sponsorship, the collective agreement will begin at the end of the 2025/26 season,” the EPL announced.
Eight EPL clubs currently have gambling sponsorship on the front of their shirts: Bournemouth, Everton, Leeds, Southampton, West Ham, Fulham, Newcastle and Brentford.
UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport welcomed the development, which comes at a time when the British government is reviewing gambling legislation.
“The vast majority of adults gamble safely but we have to recognise that footballers are role models who have enormous influence on young people,” culture secretary Lucy Frazer said Thursday. “We want to work with institutions like the Premier League to do the right thing for young fans.”
Premier League statement in full
Clubs agree to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts, the first UK sports league to do so
Premier League clubs have today collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of clubs’ matchday shirts, becoming the first sports league in the UK to take such a measure voluntarily in order to reduce gambling advertising.
The announcement follows an extensive consultation involving the League, its clubs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the Government’s ongoing review of current gambling legislation.
The Premier League is also working with other sports on the development of a new code for responsible gambling sponsorship.
To assist clubs with their transition away from shirt-front gambling sponsorship, the collective agreement will begin at the end of the 2025/26 season.
