EFL survey: 71% of fans comfortable with gambling sponsorship
More than two thirds of EFL supporters believe that gambling companies’ involvement in the football league is acceptable, according to a survey of more than 27,000 fans.
Furthermore, 62 per cent of fans stated their belief that the gambling industry’s involvement in football was acceptable with suitable safeguards to protect the young and problem gamblers.
Over half of supporters surveyed haven’t placed a bet online in the last 12 months, whilst of those that had, the most common frequency – once a week – accounted for 13 per cent. Affirming the effectiveness of Sky Bet’s sponsorship of the EFL, 28 per cent of those that gambled revealed that they exclusively placed bets on Sky Bet.
The report went onto outline that while most fans appear to maintain a healthy relationship with betting, around two per cent of fans place a bet every day and subsequently struggle with responsible gambling.
This is why the EFL and its clubs continue to encourage responsible gambling. For a small proportion of supporters, they believe that these types of companies are not acceptable as sponsors. There is a clear increase among older supporters, especially those aged over 65, who questioned the appropriateness of gambling partnerships.
The research comes amid much pressure from the opposition government, which has vowed to introduce greater restrictions for gambling companies when it comes to sponsorship and marketing.
The long term partnership between the EFL and Sky Bet has always included Responsible Gambling as a core value. Between them they have invested £1m over a five year period to educate clubs via the responsible gambling campaign.
The collaboration also committed to delivering training to players and staff at all 72 Clubs during the 2018/19 season; this includes the training implemented by the UK’s leading independent gambling harm minimisation consultancy, EPIC Risk Management.
The training aims to give players and clubs a deeper understanding of the potential risks associated with gambling, the rules regarding betting integrity, as well as how to look out for signs of potential harm in their teammates.
Source: SBC News
