UEFA data shows gambling shirt sponsorships on the rise across Europe’s top football divisions

European football’s governing body UEFA has released data that finds gambling remains the most common front-of-shirt sponsor across Europe’s top divisions.

This is despite 18 UEFA members having bans or restrictions on kit sponsorship agreements with gambling companies.

Across the top leagues, 22% of kit sponsors are gambling firms, which is a three-percentage point rise from last season.

Of the 182 clubs with a new main shirt sponsor this season, 27% secured deals with gambling or sports betting companies, up 2% from last season.

Bulgaria is the UEFA member state with the highest proportion of gambling sponsors, with 95% of its sides having gambling sponsors. All but one team are sponsored by either efbet or winbet.

The top division in Bulgaria is also sponsored by efbet. In total, 16 of the top divisions across Europe are sponsored by gambling firms, most of which are in Central and Eastern Europe.

The issue of shirt sponsorship by gambling firms has been a hot topic in the UK as it was reported last week that the Premier League is set to agree to a voluntary ban on the matter.

Eight Premier League clubs currently have gambling sponsors, including West London highflyers Brentford and Fulham as well as last season’s UEFA Europa League semi-finalists West Ham.

The second to fourth-highest tiers in England are currently sponsored by Sky Bet, with the deal set to run until the end of next season.

Clubs in the English Football League (EFL) have previously spoken out against bans on gambling sponsorship, arguing it could cripple clubs financially and could lead to more clubs going under.