Confirmation follows inquiries from supporters
Rangers FC will not be extending their in-stadium betting deal with British betting and gambling company Ladbrokes. Under the deal, fans were able to place bets at the stadium on matchday through Ladbrokes kiosks.
While Ladbrokes is the current sponsor of the Scottish Premier Football League (SPFL), the company will not have a presence in any Scottish stadium from the 2020/2021 season onwards.
Rangers confirmed the end of the club’s arrangement with Ladbrokes following a number of inquiries from supporters on social media.
the company will not have a presence in any Scottish stadium from the 2020/2021 season
A statement issued by the Scottish soccer club stated: “Rangers Football Club contract with Ladbrokes as a provider of in-stadia betting services will come to an end in advance of next Season 2020/2021.”
Rangers will be on the lookout for other types of sponsorship opportunities with its 150th anniversary on the horizon in 2022. The club still has a sponsorship agreement with the 32Red sportsbook.
Ladbrokes owner moving away from soccer deals
GVC Holdings, the parent company of Ladbrokes, is embarking on a new strategy that will see its brands move away from sponsoring soccer teams.
Many experts believe that the abundance of gambling advertising involving soccer teams and games has a negative impact on vulnerable people.
Scottish soccer and gambling firms
There have been many stories linking Scottish soccer and gambling this year.
In February, the Scottish FA announced that it would not be renewing its partnership with sports betting firm William Hill. The betting company was the title sponsor for the Scottish Cup. William Hill has been the Scottish national team’s official betting partner since 2011, but this arrangement will officially end on June 30, 2020.
In another story, one international player was secretly banned by the Scottish FA after being found to be in breach of gambling rules. The authorities thought that publishing this case would be detrimental to the player’s wellbeing.
And in January, Brian Rice, the head coach of Hamilton FC, was hit with a 10-game suspension by the Scottish FA for breaking gambling rules.
