Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers have become the latest English Premier League football clubs to enter into shirt sponsorship deals with gambling operators.
Crystal Palace will feature Asian operator Net88 on the front of its shirt for the 2024-25 Premier League season. Premier League rival Wolves will be working with Southeast Asian gambling brand DEBET as sponsor for the next two seasons.
The Net88 deal, Palace said, represents a record deal for the club. Net88 now becomes a principal club partner, with its logo also set to feature on training wear, on the official club website and around the team’s Selhurst Park stadium.
“We’re pleased to announce this principal partnership ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign as we build upon the excellent form of the men’s team at the end of last season,” Palace chief commercial officer Barry Webber said.
“Net88 is a global online gaming platform for sports and gaming fans alike and we’re looking forward to working with them at this exciting time.”
A Net88 spokesperson added: “Everyone at Net88 is excited to work with Crystal Palace after a fantastic end to last season. We are delighted to join a club that is moving forward with their great young talent.”
Record shirt deal for Wolves and DEBET
As for Wolves, the two-year agreement with DEBET also comes into effect from the 2024-25 season. DEBET branding will feature on the team’s playing shirt and on official club training wear.
Founded in 2019, DEBET offers a range of sports betting and casino products in Southeast Asia. Wolves is owned by Fosun Group, a conglomerate headquartered in Shanghai, China.
As was the case with Palace and Net88, Wolves said the deal is a record partnership for the club.
“Since our discussions began, we’ve been impressed with their professional approach and their appointment of knowledgeable individuals, who will be dedicated to making sure this partnership is a success,” Wolves’ general manager for marketing and commercial growth, Russell Jones, said.
“We look forward to working with DEBET over the next two seasons to grow the presence of both brands internationally.”
DEBET spokesperson Alan Alger added: “Wolves is a prestigious club and everyone at DEBET is proud to be part of the biggest principal partner deal the club has ever signed.”
What about the gambling shirt sponsor ban?
The deals come despite Premier League football clubs last April collectively agreeing to halt gambling sponsorship on the front of matchday shirts.
This will not come into effect until the 2025-26 season. Deals agreed in the lead up to this are permitted, as long as they conclude ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Since the announcement last spring, several clubs have secured new deals with gambling and betting brands. One of the most recent is Aston Villa, which is now working with Betano for the next two seasons.
Various other Premier League clubs also have similar deals in place. These include Brentford and Hollywood Bet and Everton with Stake.
North of the border, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has announced a title sponsorship deal with William Hill. The agreement runs for five years from the 2024-25 season.
William Hill becomes title sponsor of all four SPFL divisions – Premiership, Championship, League 1 and League 2 – and the official betting partner of the SPFL.
