The UK government is preparing to crack down on unlicensed casinos sponsoring British sports teams, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport set to launch a consultation this week. The move follows criticism that a delay to the proposals — stalled since February — allowed offshore gambling firms to strike lucrative deals with Premier League clubs, most notably Everton's three-year sleeve sponsorship agreement with the crypto casino Stake.com. The consultation will seek expert views on closing a legal loophole that currently permits unlicensed operators to sponsor clubs even though they cannot be licensed to take bets in Britain.

The warning proved timely: Entain chief executive Stella David, whose firm owns Ladbrokes, wrote to gambling minister Baroness Twycross in early June urging swift action, and Everton signed with Stake.com within weeks, disregarding Gambling Commission guidance. Stake effectively surrendered its British licence last year amid a regulatory review and says it does not take bets in the UK, though the commission has warned that clubs and executives could face prosecution for promoting unlicensed firms transacting with British consumers. Critics have urged Andy Burnham, a lifelong Everton fan and vocal gambling critic, to condemn the deal, while David cautioned that clubs might treat government inaction as a "green light" and that some unlicensed casinos illegally take UK bets.