Three-quarters (77%) of UK football fans would be in favour of banning gambling companies from appearing as shirt sponsors, according to a recent YouGov poll.
The survey comes as Premier League clubs announced that they would ban gambling companies from appearing as match-day front-of-shirt sponsors from the 2026-27 season onwards.
Premier League clubs agreed to the measure voluntarily, although gambling firms will still be permitted as shirt sleeve and pitchside sponsors.
James Grimes, founder of The Big Step – an organisation fighting the influence of gambling on football – praised the move, but criticised the decision not to pursue an outright ban. He said: “The government and the sport itself now need to wake up to the reality that gambling ads are unhealthy, unpopular and will be kicked out of football. Delaying that moment is risking the health and lives of another generation of young fans.”
It would seem the majority of football fans agree with Grimes’ view, with over half (56%) of respondents to the YouGov poll saying that they would support extending the ban to advertising on pitchside hoardings, and even to the naming rights of league and cup competitions (57%).
Two-in-five (42%) would even back a complete and total ban on gambling firms appearing on shirt sleeves. The comprehensive survey polled 1000 football fans of Premier League to League Two teams.
