According to the latest research, football is the most popular sport in the world by far. There are around 4 billion people who enjoy and practice this sport all over the globe. As you can imagine, with such popularity the industry attracts a lot of attention, and thus a lot of sponsors. Everyone wants to get involved, as it is hugely beneficial and prestigious to sponsor soccer tournaments and clubs. In this article, we will review the newcomer into the soccer sponsorship business – gambling industry. We will get acquainted with these new football sponsors and their teams and also figure out why such collaboration is beneficial for both casinos and football clubs.
First, let’s see why both industries are interested in such sponsorship deals.
The benefits for gambling establishments include:
– Worldwide exposure and great advertising opportunity. Casino ads can be seen across numerous countries that tune in for the match translations and the casino logo can be printed on the club’s t-shirts which is also a great way to promote one’s brand.
– Perfect marketing campaign opportunity. Premier League, for instance, is a well-oiled machine in terms of advertisements and commercials. There are numerous ways to promote any business and the translation channels have already been set. So it is an ideal chance for a grand marketing venture.
– Possibility to gain more fans. Gambling and sports already share numerous similarities in terms of emotional tensions, risk-taking, and fast-paced dynamics of the games. Some people that are interested in football might become invested in the relevantly-themed gambling games. So it is a good way for gambling brands to tap into the pool of people who are already interested in the topic.
– As a result of everything mentioned above – any football team sponsors can get a significant increase in revenue, which is, of course, an ultimate goal (pun intended).
However, football sponsorship deals can be beneficial to the football clubs as well. Of course, there is an obvious profit of a money influx, but there are much more benefits than meets the eye:
– Game advantage. For instance, if the planet 7 oz no deposit bonus casino wants to sponsor a particular team, the additional money deal can allow them to buy more expensive players, which in turn might have a great impact on their performance. So the lucrative sponsorship arrangement can actually change the whole course of history for this specific club.
– More benefits for the local communities. This may sound a little far-fetched, but it is actually quite reasonable. Clubs usually have numerous public programs and initiatives, youth groups, activities, and charities. The more wealthy the club is – the more money it can invest in the local activities.
– New fans. While soccer is the most popular sport in the world, each particular team is still fighting for the attention and love of the sport’s fans. New sponsorship presents a chance to gain admirers from a gambling sphere that might take a fancy in the sport. Betting possibilities can have a similar effect – if the person bets on the outcome of the game, there is a high chance that this person will actually watch the game in question.
So now it is a good time to get acquainted with the actual football clubs that are sponsored by various gambling companies.
Everton
In 2017 Everton gained the biggest sponsorship deal in their history (according to some rumors as the true value of the agreement remained undisclosed). SportPesa secured a 5-year front of shirt advertisement contract.
Newcastle United
2017 was the significant year for the partnerships between the gambling industry and football clubs, as Newcastle partnered up with an Asian betting giant Fun88. Recognized as one of the most lucrative agreements in the history of English football, this 3-year bargain is rumored to have exceeded the club’s previous sponsorship venture with Wonga that was estimated at £8m per year.
West Ham United
Gambling giant Betway teamed up with the famous West Ham United in 2015. The deal was renewed and is known to be responsible for the club’s move to the London Stadium.
Fulham
In 2018 Fulham negotiated a sponsorship with Dafabet for the 2-year front t-shirt advertising on both men’s and women’s teams. This deal highlighted Fulham’s return to the Premier League.
Evaluating the latest tendencies, we can say with great certainty that the partnership between the gambling business and football will continue prospering and we will see more and more sponsorship deals with major League teams.
Jason Copley is a sports enthusiast that concentrates on football history. He studies the development of football as one of the major modern sports industries and how it interacts with other various spheres of the contemporary world. He shares his discoveries in his blog with fellow football fans.