'Leicester and Everton sanctions demanded after new investigation'

03/22/2025 12:38 PM

Everton and Leicester City are both facing calls to be sanctioned after the latest development in the argument around their gambling sponsors.

Both clubs have faced concerns in recent times over breaches of Profit and Sustainability Regulations, with the Toffees being deducted points in the Premier League last season.

Although they are no longer facing action from the league over those issues, Everton now face the prospect of being sued by Burnley over those breaches.

Leicester meanwhile are expected to avoid a points deduction after they also faced scrutiny over their own overspending that put them at risk of breaking PSR.

Now though, both clubs are facing the prospect of having to respond to more complications over a separate issue, according to The Athletic.

Everton and Leicester City facing questions over gambling sponsors

The two sides currently both display the names of different betting companies as sponsors on the front of their shirts.

Everton are sponsored by Stake.com, while Leicester carry the logo of BC.Games as part of their kit, despite the fact both companies are banned from serving customers in the UK.

The Athletic report states an investigation by The Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) has produced evidence over the weekend that UK customers can still easily bypass actions meant to stop access to their site’s in the UK.

As a result, the CEGA have written to both clubs while asking the Gambling Commission (GC) to take action against them.

Back in February, the GC had warned that clubs officers could be persecuted if they promote companies that continue to transact with UK customers despite being banned from doing so.

In response, Everton told The Athletic that their relationship with Stake is a global partnership and does not advertise the company in the UK market. The Toffees also clarified that they had been informed by Stake that the company had taken the appropriate actions to prevent their services from being accessed in the UK market.

Leicester meanwhile responded by insisting that they are in regular contact with the GC and remain confident over their legal position.

While BC.Games did not comment, a statement from Stake claimed the company takes “compliance and integrity very seriously”.

They also insisted that the CEGA had acted fraudulently to gain their evidence, and that the fact Stake shut down the account that had been set up to gather that evidence shows they do not want to be involved in the UK market.

Premier League clubs must address betting sponsorships

Football Insider Verdict

From a legal perspective, all concerned will be keen to ensure that they have done nothing wrong over these sponsorships.

With Everton and Leicester having already had to deal with those PSR issues, they will not want to now have to be distracted by this separate legal action.

The Toffees will be looking to oversee a squad overhaul as they move into a new stadium, while the Foxes look as though they will have to bounce back after relegation from the Premier League once more.

Having any further investigation or potential punishment such as the ongoing gambling sponsor dispute hanging over them is therefore not something they will need in these circumstances.

Even so, the moral question of such firms sponsoring Premier League teams remains, when you consider the size of the financial problems it creates for many people.

So the legal clarity around this situation may differ from what many people will feel is the right or wrong thing to do when it comes to issues over bookmakers sponsoring the likes of Everton, Leicester, and many others.

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