Crystal Palace Football Club and Wolverhampton Wanderers are the latest English Premier League clubs to sign shirt sponsorship agreements with gambling operators.
Crystal Palace’s shirt will be adorned with the logo of Asian gambling brand Net88 for the season 2024-25. Wolves, a Premier League competitor, will work with Southeast Asian gambling company DEBET for the next two years as a sponsor.
Palace claimed that the Net88 agreement was a club record. Net88 is now a major club partner. Its logo will appear on team training gear, the club’s official website, and at the Selhurst Park Stadium.
Barry Webber, chief commercial officer at Palace said: “We are pleased to announce the principal partnership for the Premier League season ahead as we continue the great form the men’s side showed towards the end of last year.”
Net88 offers a worldwide online gaming platform that is popular with sports fans and gamers alike. We are excited to work together at this momentous time.
An official from Net88 said: “Everyone is thrilled to be working with Crystal Palace following a great end to the last season.” We are thrilled to be joining a club with great talent.
Wolves, DEBET and Wolves shirt deals record
The Wolves’ two-year contract with DEBET will also come into force in 2024-25. The team will wear DEBET logos on their playing shirts and official training gear.
DEBET was founded in 2019 and offers sports betting, casino games and other products throughout Southeast Asia. Wolves belongs to Fosun Group, an international conglomerate with headquarters in Shanghai.
Wolves, like Palace with Net88 said that the partnership is an all-time record for their club.
Russell Jones, Wolves’ General Manager for Marketing and Commercial Growth, stated that “since our discussions started, we have been impressed by their professional approach, and the appointment of individuals who are knowledgeable and will work to ensure this partnership is successful.”
We look forward to working together with DEBET in the coming seasons to increase the international presence of both brands.
Alan Alger, DEBET’s spokesperson added that “Wolves are a prestigious team and we at DEBET are proud to have been able to sign the largest principal partner agreement the club had ever done.”
These deals are despite Premier League clubs agreeing last April to stop gambling sponsorships on match day shirts.
The 2025/26 campaign will be the first to see this in effect. This will not apply to any deals concluded prior to the season 2025-2026.
Since last spring’s announcement, several clubs secured new contracts with betting and gambling brands. Aston Villa is the latest club to sign a deal with Betano, for two years.
Other Premier League clubs have also negotiated similar agreements. Brentford has a deal with Hollywood Bet, and Everton is partnered up with Stake.
William Hill has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Scottish Professional Football League, located north of the border. This agreement will last for five years, starting with the season 2024-25.
William Hill is the new title sponsor for all four SPFL Divisions: Premiership, Championship, League 1 & League 2 and official betting partner.
