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More than two-thirds of English Football League (EFL) supporters believe that gambling companies’ involvement in the football league is acceptable, according to a survey of more than 27,000 fans.
The EFL Supporters Survey 2019 featured the responses from fans of 72 clubs across the EFL, which comprises the three leagues immediately below the top-tier Premier League.
Of those fans that responded, 71 per cent of fans accept gambling sponsorship in the EFL. 62 per cent of fans stated their belief that the gambling industry’s involvement in football was acceptable with suitable safeguards to protect the young and problem gamblers, while 9 per cent believe it is acceptable in all circumstances.
However, a quarter of fans said that gambling sponsorship is not acceptable at all in the EFL, with 5% unsure over the matter. It was noted that the majority of fans opposed to gambling sponsorship were aged 65 and over.
EFL’s Championship, League One and League Two are sponsored by Sky Bet since the 2013-14 season and in November 2017 the company extended the deal by five years, through to the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Over half of supporters surveyed haven’t placed a bet online in the last 12 months, whilst of those that had, the most common frequency – once a week – accounted for 13 per cent. Affirming the effectiveness of Sky Bet’s sponsorship of the EFL, 28 per cent of those that gambled revealed that they exclusively placed bets on Sky Bet.
