In the United Kingdom and Premier League football side Crystal Palace has reportedly announced that remote automotive purchasing service Cinch is to replace Asia-facing online casino and sportsbetting brand W88 as its official shirt sponsor from next season.

According to a Thursday report from The Daily Telegraph newspaper, the decision comes as many industry observers expect the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to soon introduce a complete ban on online gambling firms sponsoring top-flight sporting organizations. Such a suggestion may well purportedly feature in a coming ‘white paper’ of proposed alterations to the Gambling Act of 2005 and could be implemented from as soon as the summer.

Comprehensive company:

Headquartered in the south London borough of Croydon, Crystal Palace has reportedly become the first Premier League footballing side to eschew sponsorship by an iGaming firm while talks are said to be ongoing about how other top-flight sides can voluntarily follow suit. Compatriots Newcastle United, Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, Southampton and Leeds United reportedly still have such front-of-shirt marketing deals in place although it is widely assumed that the government will exempt cash-strapped lower league English clubs such as Watford and Burnley from any coming ban.

Two-year tenancy:

Crystal Palace finished the most recent edition of the 20-team Premier League in twelfth position and reportedly inked its marketing deal with W88 in August of 2020. For its part and Cinch is owned by Constellation Automotive Group Limited and also purportedly enjoys similar sponsorship arrangements with the Northampton Saints rugby side, the Scottish Professional Football League and the England national cricket team.

Enlightened enterprise:

Barry Webber serves as the Commercial Director for Crystal Palace, which is colloquially known as ‘The Eagles,’ and reportedly described Cinch as a brand that its ‘well-established, family friendly and instantly recognizable’ to customers across the United Kingdom and the world. He purportedly went on to assert that the ‘landmark partnership’ with the automotive enterprise represents ‘another statement of progress’ for his side and its many thousands of supporters.

Webber reportedly told The Daily Telegraph…

“This is an incredibly exciting time for our partnership to begin as we enter our tenth successive season in the Premier League with a squad packed full of international talent whilst Cinch continues its impressive expansion and innovation in the car market. We look forward to helping each other secure our respective ambitions.”

Growth goal:

The Chairman for Constellation Automotive Group Limited, Avril Palmer-Baunack, reportedly told the newspaper that her company is ‘delighted to be joining Crystal Palace as front of shirt sponsor’ in hopes of further supporting its ‘expansion in the British car market.’

A statement from Palmer-Baunack reportedly read…

“We look forward to working with the teams, fans and local community and have high hopes for the club next season.”