SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Stake.com, the principal sponsor of Watford FC, has leveraged its agreement with the club for a new social responsibility initiative in support of Rainbow Laces.
As a result of the commitment, the crypto-based sports betting and casino games operator’s LED branding at the Vicarage Road stadium will be changed to support Rainbow Laces, a campaign by the Stonewall organisation, during Wednesday’s game against Chelsea.
The new pledge has been made in support of LGBTQ+ representation in football, a long-standing focus of the Rainbow Laces campaign, and will see collaboration with Watford supporter’s group Proud Hornets.
“Stake.com are committed to inclusivity,” commented Dominic Rae, Sponsorships Manager for Stake.com. “We too believe that football is for everyone and we’re proud to support the Premier League and Stonewall’s campaign by updating our sponsorship assets at Vicarage Road for the visit of Chelsea.”
Stake.com is currently in the first year of its partnership with Watford FC, whilst outside of football it also maintains sponsorship arrangements with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – with one focused on Latin America and Asia – and fighter Israel Adesanya.
Previous CSR initiatives by Watford FC, meanwhile, have seen the Premier League club enter into a partnership with RocoverMe, an app developed by three junior NHS doctors with the aim of increasing awareness of gambling treatment options.
Paul O’Brien, Commercial Director at Watford FC, added: “We’re very proud of working with Stake.com on our Rainbow Lace activities for this year. At Watford Football Club we pride ourselves on our equality and diversity activities, therefore it is with great delight that our principal sponsor have also taken the Stonewall campaign to their heart.”
Commenting on the importance of inclusivity in football, Premier League Chairman Richard Masters said: “Football has a remarkable power to bring people together and it is a priority for the Premier League and our clubs to ensure everybody feels welcome and supported, from players and fans, to staff and all those involved in our many community programmes.
“We and our clubs play an important role in encouraging people to support the LGBTQ+ community. During the Rainbow Laces campaign, we showcase the wide variety of projects and initiatives being conducted all year round to highlight that equality and inclusion are central to everything we do.”
