Celtic Football Club have announced a deal with William Hill for in-stadium betting. They have gambling and alcohol companies promoted on their shirts.
Adrian Filby, Celtic FC Commercial Director, added: “We are very pleased to be partnering with an industry leader in William Hill.
We are certain that supporters who use this service will benefit from an enhanced stadium experience throughout the season.”
Celtic are just one of the majority of top clubs with such partnerships. Stoke City’s ground is named the Bet365 Stadium. There is nothing in law or governing football association’s regulations to disallow clubs from entering into such legal commercial agreements.
However, campaigners have fought long and hard to see the forthcoming and much-delayed gambling White Paper prohibit football’s involvement with gambling.
Meanwhile in Glasgow the Scottish Women’s Permiership top team, Glasgow City, broke ties with gambling advertising some time ago. Coinciding with the Big Step walk between Edinburgh and Glasgow football grounds, Laura Montgomery, CEO of Glasgow City, said:
“Glasgow City is fully behind charity Gambling with Lives Big Step campaign to drive gambling advertising and sponsorship out of football.
“As a club, we are completely against any form of gambling advertising at our own games and we ask the rest of football to join ourselves and those clubs already committed to removing the betting industry from their matches to do the same.
“Football is such an incredible force for good and we must do all we can to influence positively on the lives of our supporters. The effects of gambling are well known and can have catastrophic effects on finance and mental health not just for the person suffering addiction but for affected others too.”
Last weekend the club joined others in wearing yellow laces signifying support for the Big Step’s campaign to remove advertising from football.
