A ban on gambling-related sponsorships in the Netherlands beginning in July will likely have big knock-on effects on the country’s soccer clubs.
According to AD, 33 of the nation’s 34 professional teams earned revenue from the sector. Roda JC is the only exception, refusing to deal with such sponsors for moral reasons.
lose out on an average of €40m ($41.5m) because they will have to drop sponsors
Eredivisie CV, which looks after the interests of the top clubs, estimated that teams in the top tier will lose out on an average of €40m ($41.5m) because they will have to drop sponsors and another €30m ($31m) indirectly due to advertising cuts.
The ban on gambling sponsors has been on the horizon for many years, with lawmakers deciding on the change due to increasing levels of addiction. They gave clubs until July 2023 to sign new deals and July 2025 to completely cut ties.
The smaller Eredivisie CV clubs will feel the impact more sharply than behemoths like Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord.
Lotteries are exempt from the upcoming ban; Eredivisie CV recently entered into an agreement with social lottery operator VriendenLoterij as its title sponsor. The deal starts in time for the 2025-2026 season and lasts until June 2029.
