The Big Step, a campaign calling for an end to gambling adverts and sponsorship in football, has published a letter from over 100 people affected by gambling harm ahead of September’s vote.
The letter cited concerns regarding the upcoming vote, stating that “relying on clubs to self-regulate has not worked so far,” then going on to highlight concerns over the number of gambling adverts shown in Premier League games, giving an example of one match that displayed 700 adverts.
The group stressed that it is not anti-gambling, that it is not “trying to completely end the relationship between gambling and football;” but that “it should not be promoted, especially in a globally-adored league where young people make up a quarter of the audience.”
Premier League clubs Fulham FC and Everton FC recently signed partnerships with gambling firms W88 and Stake, respectively. These moves cast doubt over both clubs’ commitment to reducing the presence of gambling advertisements in football.