Following a review of gambling regulations, new government legislation might prohibit Crystal Palace from displaying the sponsor W88’s name on their football jerseys beyond 2023.
The shirt sponsorship agreement between Crystal Palace and W88 is likely to be affected by new regulations after the UK government’s review of gambling rules.
In August 2020, the club joined the Asian online betting company, with W88 replacing former sponsor ManBetX as Crystal Palace’s primary sponsor.
W88 once sponsored both Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. Still, according to a report in the Daily Mail, their ties to the United Kingdom’s most popular sports league may be terminated due to a government study.
Initially, Palace struck a deal with W88 for them to be the club’s primary sponsor for the 2021/21 season; however, that agreement has been extended until the current season.
The specifics of the agreement remain unknown, although Palace’s previous sponsorship agreement with ManBetX was reportedly worth £6.5 million per year.
Not only may jersey sponsorship be affected, but a broader prohibition on betting advertising in sports is also being explored, along with restrictions on advertising hoardings and television ads during events.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) initiated the review of the 2005 Hambling Act in December 2020, with the final report due by the end of the year or early 2022 at the latest.
The modifications are anticipated to take into effect in 2023, following a three-month consultation process following the publication of the review and before the bill’s submission to Parliament for approval.
