Football, or soccer, is the most popular sport in the world. It's also one of the most influential industries in terms of sponsorship and advertising. Footballers are highly paid celebrities with millions of followers watching their every move. This means that brands look to sponsor football players as a way to market their products to millions of consumers.
However, some interesting trends are emerging with football sponsorships, as gambling companies have become increasingly involved in sponsoring athletes and teams alike. Here are some of them:
- Dafabet
- Betway
- Bet365
- LeoVegas
- 888Sport
- 10Bet
- BetFred
Dafabet
Dafabet is a sportsbook and casino site owned by the Asian gaming giant Dragon Corp. It was founded in 2004 and is based in the Philippines. Under the subsidiary of the privately-owned company AsianBGE, the company was founded in Makati, Philippines. Dafabet was one of the first casino online to offer live casino games, which include roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and more.
In addition to sponsoring Aston Villa Football Club since 2012, Dafabet has also sponsored Cadiz FC, Fulham FC, Celtic FC, Norwich City FC, and Coritiba Foot Ball Club FBC.
Betway Sportsbook and Casino
Betway is a British-based gambling company that was founded in 2006. They have sponsored many football teams, including Betis, Celta, and West Ham United. This brand is very well-known across the world, as one of their sponsorships includes Betway sponsoring Betis for the La Liga season 2018/19.
The company has also sponsored Deportivo Alaves from July 2017 to June 2020 for a total fee of €2 million euros per year (€1.4 million plus VAT).
Bet365
Bet365 is one of the largest online gambling companies in the world. It offers sports betting, casino games, poker, and fixed-odds betting terminals at UK racecourses. Bet365 sponsors several sports teams, including Stoke City Football Club and Leicester City Football Club, as well as other organizations such as England Rugby Sevens and European Tour Golf.
Bet365 has been involved in sponsorship for many years now and is one of the leading brands when it comes to getting your brand out there through association with football or any other sport, for that matter. They have sponsored teams such as Newcastle United FC.
LeoVegas Casino and Sportsbook
LeoVegas is a Swedish online casino that was founded in 2011. Since then, they have become one of the largest online gambling companies in the world, with over 200 employees and over 20 million customers. They are based in Stockholm, Sweden but has several offices around the globe.
In addition to being an online casino, they also sponsor football clubs such as Norwich City and Brentford Football Club, Manchester City, and Guarani Futebol Clube.
888Sport
888Sport is a leading online sports betting brand that offers a wide range of sports to bet on. The website allows you to place bets with your favorite team at the very best odds, or you can take advantage of the in-play feature and make wagers as the game progresses.
888Sport offers casino games, too, including slots and live casino tables, which are available in several languages. It also has its mobile app that provides an excellent experience when compared to competitors.
In addition to this focus on providing quality gambling services and products, 888Sport also sponsors several professional football teams: Birmingham City FC, Nottingham Forest FC, Brentford FC, Preston North End FC, Dinamo Bucharest, and others
10Bet
10Bet is a UK-based sportsbook that has been in operation since 2003. The company provides online casino, poker, and sports wagering services to players worldwide. 10Bet operates under the license of Curacao eGaming to offer its products and services to countries where gambling is legal.
The company has sponsored various football clubs such as Blackburn Rovers FC, Enyimba FC, and Juventus FC. The famous footballers who have signed up with this brand include Didier Drogba, who was once an ambassador for them after retiring from playing professional football back in 2018.
BetFred
BetFred is a UK-based bookmaker which was established in 1967 by Fred Done. The company was founded on the principles of honesty, integrity, and respect for its customers. Today, BetFred is one of the biggest betting companies in the world, with millions of customers across dozens of countries.
The company has sponsored numerous football teams since it began sponsoring sports, including Bolton Wanderers FC, Mallorca, Preston North End FC, and Sunderland A.F.C.
Conclusion
It’s no surprise that many of the world’s most famous football clubs are sponsored by gambling companies. Football and online gambling have a long relationship, and there is no sign of this changing anytime soon. It has been said that the best thing about watching a game live is having something at stake, so it makes sense for casinos and sports betting operators to partner with clubs to engage more with their customers.