Research has found that 10 out of 20 Premier League clubs have displayed gambling logos or links on web pages designed for or themed around minors under 18 years old.
A recent survey revealed that half of the football clubs in the Premier League have not adhered to their own voluntarily established code of conduct regarding gambling advertisements targeted at or themed around minors.
This code was developed in collaboration with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to prevent concerns that football might promote gambling to young people and vulnerable groups, thereby demonstrating responsible behavior by the clubs and gambling companies.
The survey found that 10 out of the 20 Premier League clubs displayed gambling logos or links on web pages designed for or showcasing content to minors under 18. This includes club store pages for children, football content for under 18s, and pages specifically for youth fan forums and mascots.
Some clubs even allowed minors to wear jerseys with gambling logos, which is not permitted in league matches.
Notable examples include Brentford and Wolverhampton displaying betting logos in the children's section of their online merchandise stores.
In addition, several clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea, and Leicester City have linked to gambling sponsors on their under-18 football pages.
Several clubs removed the problematic links and images after being contacted. However, some issues still remain, such as Newcastle United's website linking to a gambling sponsor on its youth academy page.
This finding has raised concerns among activists about the effectiveness of self-regulation, including former ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley, who stated: "I'd like to say I'm surprised, but that's not the case. We are encountering more and more examples that show we cannot rely on operators, football clubs, and television channels to self-regulate."
The Premier League claims it is working with clubs to implement the regulations, with an independent football ombudsman responsible for adjudicating unresolved complaints.
