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Football's gambling addiction

Football has become increasingly reliant on income from betting companies. They account for some forty per cent of perimeter advertising and half of shirt sponsorships, amounting to some £50m a year in total.

The growth of this relationship has in part been driven by the growth of online gambling. Betting on matches is also very important in Asia where Premier League games are seen as free of any form of fixing.

However, there are risks in this relationship. The gambling industry has come under criticism for failing to do enough to deal with the problem of addiction. It would claim that it has taken measures and, in any case, the vast majority of those who bet just enjoy the occasional flutter.

However, the Labour Party has pledged to end betting advertising in football which would have considerable financial implications, although they might allow a transition period (and the legislation would take time to pass). There is an interesting review of these issues here: The odd relationship between gambling and football

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