Five English Premier League clubs are under scrutiny after the Gambling Commission issued formal warnings regarding their sponsorship ties to an unlicensed gambling operator. Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley have all maintained commercial relationships with betting brands affiliated with TGP Europe, a company that no longer holds a British operating license.

Legal consequences and regulatory pressure:

The Commission’s warning stems from TGP Europe’s recent regulatory failure, which led the company to voluntarily exit the UK market. The operator surrendered its license after it was found to have violated anti-money laundering standards and failed to perform adequate due diligence on its business partners. The regulator’s findings prompted a £3.3 million penalty and calls for significant internal reforms—conditions that ultimately triggered TGP’s withdrawal.

Each of the five football clubs received official correspondence from the Gambling Commission stating they “may be liable to prosecution… if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain.” If found in breach, club executives could face criminal charges, including fines or imprisonment.

Current sponsors linked to TGP Europe include BJ88 (Bournemouth), SBOTOP (Fulham), DEBET (Wolves), and 96.com (Burnley). Though FUN88 no longer features as Newcastle’s primary shirt sponsor, it remains the club’s official Asian betting partner. Newcastle also previously hosted Sportsbet.io on its kits.

In a letter viewed by BBC Sport, the Commission stated, “You will want to continue to satisfy yourself that your sponsorship and associated advertising arrangements are legal and do not present a reputational risk to your sport.” The regulator also emphasized the importance of verifying that geo-blocking measures are actively preventing UK consumers from accessing the unlicensed platforms. “Some blocking can be easily bypassed by use of tools such as a virtual private network,” the letter warned.

Further action expected amid wider concerns:

The Commission has begun unannounced audits to verify whether the sites remain inaccessible to UK users and stated that it would carry out “ongoing spot checks as necessary.” Enforcement head John Pierce commented, “Should any of these sites be available to GB consumers, we will take appropriate action.”

Pierce reiterated that football organizations must take responsibility for protecting the public from gambling harm. “It is essential that football clubs play their part in protecting fans and GB consumers who may be exposed to advertising of these sites through their sponsorship arrangements from harm or exploitation.”

Earlier in the year, similar notices were sent to Everton, Leicester City, and Nottingham Forest regarding other TGP-affiliated brands—Stake, BC.GAME, and Kaiyun. Despite the warnings, those sponsors remain featured on team kits.

Will Prochaska, Director of the Coalition to End Gambling Ads, criticized the current regulatory framework, “Action against TGP Europe is welcome, but warnings against advertising unlicensed gambling companies ring hollow. Premier League clubs – including Everton and Leicester – have been advertising unlicensed sites for months.”

Although Premier League clubs have collectively agreed to remove gambling brands from the front of matchday shirts by the conclusion of the 2025–26 season, such sponsorships are still widespread. Over half the league’s clubs are currently partnered with gambling operators, and these deals have generated significant revenue, estimated at around £500 million over the past five seasons.

The Gambling Commission is calling on clubs to conduct rigorous due diligence when entering partnerships with white-label providers and to ensure transparency around the funding sources for these arrangements. “This includes satisfying themselves as to the source of the funds for the arrangement,” the regulator stated.