SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Ladbrokes marketing has vowed to place social responsibility at the forefront of its renewed Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) sponsorship.
The bookmaker has been the title sponsor of the SPFL since 2015, and yesterday confirmed that it had renewed the partnership for a further two seasons of Scottish football, in a deal reported to worth £5 million.
As lead SPFL sponsor, Ladbrokes details that it will promote ‘responsible gambling’ throughout its marketing initiatives associated with Scottish football.
Ladbrokes renews its SPFL sponsorship, as Scottish football league governance has been criticised for its reliance on sponsorship from betting firms.
In 2017 John Rankin PFA Scotland Chairman stated that ‘gambling was rife within Scottish Football’, and that the players’ union had concerns related to athletes, managers, coaches and chairmen.
Addressing concerns, Ladbrokes details that it will continue to work with SPFL governance, promoting safer gambling standards in football and within Scottish society.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster, backed Ladbrokes support for Scottish football, stating
“We have enjoyed a superb partnership since they first came on board in 2015 and are confident that will continue and flourish until 2020 and hopefully beyond
“We are aware of our social responsibilities as a senior professional league in Scotland and will continue to promote a message of responsible gambling in conjunction with Ladbrokes.”
Ladbrokes Coral Group CEO Jim Mullen, personally backed SPFL and Ladbrokes social initiatives, stating that they were critical to the sponsorship’s renewal and ongoing success.
“We knew when we started the sponsorship that we were associating with a sport that is followed with passion and dedication and it has proved to be an excellent partnership.
“We also want to make sure that it reflects that gambling should be fun, not a problem, and that is why our continued sponsorship will enable us to promote responsible gambling and work with clubs to ensure that the integrity of the sport is upheld.
“We take our role as a sponsor seriously and we take our role to help customers keep gambling fun just as seriously.”
