CARE analysis: ‘Out-of-touch’ Old Firm fails to ditch gambling shirt sponsors

Press release — The Old Firm is failing to heed public concern about gambling harms by continuing to display betting company logos on match-day shirts, CARE for Scotland has said.

New analysis shows that Celtic and Rangers are the only clubs in the Scottish Premiership to have agreed gambling-related shirt sponsorship for the 2023/24 season, which kicks off on Saturday 5 August. Celtic will display Dafabet and Rangers will display Unibet.

Clubs face increasing pressure to sever ties with big betting, amid spiralling gambling-related harms. Around 1 in 16 adults in Scotland are estimated to have, or be at risk of having, gambling problems, which affect families, communities, and wider society.

Michael Veitch, Scottish Parliamentary Officer at CARE for Scotland, said:

“It is disappointing to see so the Old Firm still making shirt sponsorship deals with gambling companies. Problem gambling is a huge concern in Scotland and research shows that people who bet on sports are more likely to fall into its grip.

“For people struggling with addiction, constant exposure to gambling marketing is far from harmless. By continuing to pursue gambling sponsorship, clubs are ignoring public health experts and bereaved families who have urged a halt to it.

“Football and gambling are too intertwined. Fans face an onslaught of betting ads on TV and online. Polling for our charity found that the Scottish public are uncomfortable with the number of ads shown during televised matches.”

Mr Veitch added:

“Gambling sponsorship serves an industry that depends entirely on customer loss for its success, with a track record of putting profits before people. It's time for Scottish football to blow the final whistle on its partnership with the gambling industry."

Data breakdown

Celtic has partnered with online gambling platform Dafabet for its main shirt sponsor, and Rangers has partnered with global gambling platform Unibet. Rangers also has a separate deal with 32Red, making it the most industry-linked club in the Scottish Premiership.

Eight clubs in the Scottish top-tier have not made a deal with a betting company: Aberdeen, Dundee, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County, St Johnstone, and St Mirren. Hibernian have a “commercial partnership” with online gambling firm QuinnBet, while Livingston are sponsored by Betsat, though neither logo features on the respective clubs’ shirts.

The Scottish Premiership kicks off on Saturday 5 August.

Public opinion

A Savanta poll for CARE in April found that 7 in 10 Scots think TV coverage of football matches is over-saturated with gambling ads.

A significant 74 per cent of respondents who expressed an opinion said they think “too many” gambling adverts are shown during televised football games.

And 9 in 10 (91%) said gambling advertising in UK football “should be overseen by a regulator”. A breakdown for UK and Northern Irish respondents is provided.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Data tables are available here. For more information, or to request an interview with our policy expert, contact: press@care.org.uk

CARE for Scotland provides analysis of social policy from a Christian perspective. CARE campaigns for tougher regulation of the gambling industry, and increased investment in initiatives that help people escape gambling addiction.

Helpful links:

Polling for CARE finds public unease about gambling as white paper due to be published | CARE

People who bet on sports are more likely to develop a problem, study suggests | CARE

Concern as almost half of Premier League shirts feature betting companies in 2021/22 | CARE