Chelsea fans voice opposition to sponsorship deal with online casino giants Stake
Chelsea fans have voiced strong disapproval towards a potential jersey sponsorship with Stake.com, an online casino proclaiming itself a global forerunner in cryptocurrency betting.
As the club's existing agreement with cell phone company Three is due to end, Chelsea had originally hoped to secure a profitable partnership with American streaming giant Paramount+. However, the Premier League has blocked this move to avoid unsettling television rights holders.
Despite an upcoming prohibition on gambling-related shirt sponsorships, set to start after the 2025-26 season, it is believed that Chelsea is in the late stages of negotiation for a one-year shirt sponsorship with Stake.com.
According to a survey carried out by the Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST), 77% of fans either disagree or strongly disagree with the proposed Stake.com partnership.
The CST issued a statement warning that such a deal would completely undermine the positive impact of the Chelsea Foundation's initiatives on gambling harm awareness, particularly its workshops held in west London schools. The deal, they added, would risk being perceived as myopic, causing many members to view any future projects by the Chelsea Foundation as insincere.
The CST requested that the club's board ensure transparency over any such decision. They expressed confusion and disappointment as to why it took until June to apparently settle on this new sponsor. The CST said that a primary shirt sponsorship from an online casino and betting firm did not align with the ambition to elevate Chelsea FC to a 'world-class' organisation.
The CST recognised Chelsea's motivation to increase revenue across the club, but emphasised that this should not be pursued at the cost of the club's principles.
Stake's UK platform, featuring a banner declaring itself as Everton's "main partner", offers a standard betting service with a sportsbook and online casino. Outside of the UK, users can also use Stake to place bets in bitcoin and other digital currencies. The company's global website boasts that it is a worldwide leader in crypto gambling, offering one of the top platforms for betting and casino games in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
