Betting Companies and Online Casinos: Unusual Sponsors of Football Clubs

Football may not be the oldest sport, but it is certainly the most popular and entertaining. It has become more than a competition, it is a part of different cultures all over the world. Kids of all ages enjoy playing with one another, and this hobby easily grows into an obsession and a career choice. It’s a symbol of fair play and sportsmanship, and it represents a connection between different countries and cultures. However, it is also strongly connected to the sports betting industry, and as such lots of gambling companies are sponsoring these events. This is one of the more controversial topics among football fans, and here we are going to discuss why many find it unusual.

Normalizing Gambling

Gambling is a highly regulated activity, but it is rarely seen in a positive light. Many associate it with money issues and addiction, and even if only a small portion of gamblers suffer from these problems, the activity faces vocal opposition. This comes from concerned parents who want to ensure kids are not exposed to this content from a young age. Since football games have children as spectators, many don’t like the idea of gambling sponsors appearing during the matches and airing their commercials. 

Casinos on Jerseys

Jerseys are so much more than fashion, they are a symbol for fans who support a team, and fans want these symbols to be consistent. Fans of Tottenham Football Club were really disappointed when company Thomson was sponsoring their team, as the front logo was the same color as their rival Arsenal. In 2006 Tottenham took a sponsorship deal from an online gambling company Mansions and the logo was also red. Today lots of legale online casino websites are sponsoring different teams, and fans simply got over the fact that jersey design will be dictated by the sponsors. Furthermore, a lot of the spectators also gamble online, so they typically get to enjoy various promotions and bonuses during these big events.

Players are Role Models

Famous athletes are superstars and influencers. They have many admirers who want to mimic them, and who will support their opinion out of admiration.  The best example of this is the 2020 press conference when Christiano Ronaldo moved a bottle of Coca-Cola that was in front of him and told the audience to drink water. This is just his opinion and yet saying it out loud in front of the cameras caused the stocks of Coca-Cola to drop by 4 billion dollars.

This is why online gambling companies want famous athletes as their brand ambassadors, and they want them to wear jerseys with their company logo. It also helps to have their image on the website, as it is seen as a stamp of approval from that player. Given the influence these athletes have it is also clear why some of their fans can be disappointed when they promote other companies. These are already wealthy individuals, and getting that extra paycheck doesn’t make a big difference in their lives.

However, athletes use a great portion of their wealth to help others and fund humanitarian organizations. In a way they get to ensure the money gambling companies have can go to those who need it the most.

Football Teams Are Businesses   

Another issue is that football teams are incredibly wealthy and that they also have no need for sponsorship deals with gambling companies. However, businesses are constantly scrutinized by investors who want to continue their support. Getting new deals ensures that the money keeps flowing in and that the business is growing. Both falls and growth can be exponential, if the team starts underperforming, that effect tends to be magnified, and the same goes for success. So, keeping these deals alive is more important than just a quick gain, it’s there to ensure the longevity of the team.

Conclusion   

As you can see this is a controversial topic for a reason, and although football teams can come off as greedy, it’s clearly more complicated than that. It’s also important to remember that gambling companies take these addiction issues seriously, and they are big proponents of responsible gaming. But it’s undeniable that we need a level of concern, as these controversies are the reason why gambling has become significantly safer.