FCA Warns Against Unregulated Sponsors in Football Amid Gambling Issue

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned football clubs in the UK against signing sponsorship deals with financial firms that are not based in the UK, amid discussions about whether unregulated gambling sponsors should be banned from British sport.

The FCA, which is an independent regulatory body responsible for overseeing the financial services industry in the UK, says unauthorised firms, including crypto businesses and trading platforms, are breaching UK financial services laws by partnering with football clubs. The FCA has written to clubs, mainly in the English Premier League, reminding them of their responsibilities to fans.

What the FCA said

Lucy Castledine, Director of Consumer Investments at the FCA, said: “Millions of football fans trust their club’s badge. Clubs should not let unauthorised financial firms exploit that loyalty by putting potentially dodgy products in front of millions of fans.

“A logo on a shirt means one thing: that firm paid for it. Fans should always check the firm using our Firm Checker tool before buying a financial product and help us show the red card to those that would risk your money.”

The Firm Checker that Castledine mentioned allows the user to check if a financial firm is authorised to provide services in the UK. The FCA has made clear its expectation that all UK football clubs should conduct through due diligence on financial services sponsors before signing with them. The FCA has already spoken to some clubs individually where a potential issue with an unregulated sponsor has arisen.

Premier League sponsorship ban

The letter from the FCA can relate to the gambling industry, which is also in the spotlight regarding unregulated sponsorships, and crypto businesses could potentially offer gambling services. In February, Entain CEO Stella David wrote to the Premier League calling for a ban on unlicensed gambling operators from appearing on its teams’ shirts.

From the start of the 2026/27 season, which begins in August, the Premier League will implement a voluntary ban on front-of-shirt sponsorships for gambling operators. However, gambling brands will still be allowed to appear on the teams’ sleeves, and teams will still be able to have partnerships with gambling brands. The ban will not apply to all leagues below the Premier League.

David’s letter followed an announcement from the UK government that it would hold a consultation on sports sponsorship in the spring, with a view to banning unlicensed gambling sponsorship of all British sports teams, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with the illegal market.

Last season, Premier League teams Bournemouth (BJ88), Burnley (96.com), Everton (Stake.com), Fulham (SBOTOP), Sunderland (W88), and Wolverhampton Wanderers (DEBET) were all sponsored by gambling brands that were unlicensed in the UK; those sponsorships have all now had to come to an end, albeit Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers are no longer Premier League clubs.

David wrote: “Entain welcomes the government’s announcement that it will consult on a blanket ban on such advertising. But a consultation will take months to complete, meanwhile clubs will be under pressure to order playing strips for next season. The Premier League must therefore act now, banning these operators that target vulnerable UK consumers.”

TGP Europe ban

A number of gambling brands lost their licensing in the UK in May 2025, when white-label operator TGP Europe surrendered its license, after being told to pay a £3.3 million penalty by regulator the Gambling Commission, and to make significant improvements if it wanted to continue trading in Great Britain.