Anger as fans’ betting losses go to EFL clubs

ENGLISH Football League clubs have been making money from their supporters’ gambling losses, it has emerged.

Under an affiliate scheme that has triggered outrage, EFL members pocketed a percentage of losses from fans when they placed unsuccessful wagers with competition sponsors sky Bet.

The scheme — which MP Carolyn harris branded as exploitation yesterday — was discontinued at the end of season 2019-20, having been set up in 2013 and renewed in 2017. however, the EFL admit some sides are continuing to benefit, and will do so until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

some of the bigger Championship clubs made around £10,000 annually from the deal which saw the clubs act as middle men, sending punters sky Bet’s way and then picking up a percentage of money they lost.

Fans were invited to click links to sky Bet on club websites and register accounts.

Those accounts were then tracked and the club in question then picked up a share of subsequent losses.

it remains to be seen if Premier League clubs, who have or had sponsorship deals with bookmakers, were subject to similar incentives.

A draft white paper to reform gambling laws has been shelved a number of times and there are concerns new Prime Minister Liz Truss could drop it.

Conservative MP iain Duncan smith, who is attempting to keep the white paper alive, told the Guardian that the deal was ‘terrible’.

he said: ‘That a football club might benefit from this runs against all they are supposed to stand for — support for their fans.’

An EFL spokesperson said: ‘While some clubs do receive revenue from legacy sign-ups, the affiliate scheme in place was phased out and all sign-up links via EFL Digital channels have been removed.’