Everton £10m-a-year agreement could start to derail on Thursday amid Premier League news
Everton could soon see their £10million-per-year agreement with Stake derail amid the news that Premier League clubs will vote on a voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors, according to the Daily Mail.
The Toffees signed a club-record main partner deal with the casino and sports betting platform last summer, as confirmed by the official Everton website.
It represents the highest-value front-of-shirt deal in Everton’s 144-year history, but it may not be allowed to last for much longer.
“Premier League clubs will vote on Thursday on a voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors, which are currently worth a combined £52million,” according to the Mail Online.
“Eight top-flight clubs have betting firms as their main shirt sponsor, with Everton (Stake) and West Ham (Betway) having the most lucrative deals at £10m per season.
“It is expected that the proposal will be passed by the League’s shareholders, with the compromise being that gambling companies are allowed as a sleeve sponsor. This move is to avoid Government legislation that would prevent gambling advertising completely.”
Huge blow
The Government have been trying to clamp down on gambling sponsorship in football for some time now, with some sort of compromise seemingly the only way forward in this lengthy back and forth.
Football clubs have been unwilling to back down, which is certainly understandable given the huge financial gains they enjoy from such sponsorship.
But the other side of the coin is also important, with young people undoubtedly impacted due to their bombardment from gambling companies when watching Premier League football.
It certainly won’t be the end of the debate, but it is a step in the right direction as all parties look to find a favourable outcome.
However, given their struggles both on and off the pitch this season, any hit to Everton’s finances will be a crushing blow, with the Toffees eager to continue making the most of their partnership with Stake.
The £10m total per season is huge, and it would definitely be felt if the club were to lose that deal, which could be the case in the near future.