Insider Sport

UKGC responds to Birmingham City’s controversial sponsorship deal ⚽ 💬 Following an Insider Sport and iGaming Expert investigation, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued a strong warning to football clubs regarding partnerships with unlicensed gambling operators. 🔎 At the heart of the issue is #God55, Birmingham City’s recently announced betting partner, which claimed to hold a Malta Gaming Licence. The #MGA has since confirmed these claims are “false and misleading.” The #UKGC has reiterated that clubs must conduct due diligence to ensure sponsorships comply with legal standards, warning that failure to do so could result in serious legal and reputational risks. Read the UKGC's comments in the article below 👇 https://lnkd.in/dVE8AXuW

Over the past weekend, #NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that he is interested in creating a new European league. Having been in conversations with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) for the past several months, Silver officially announced the NBA’s interest in creating a new league in the continent. https://lnkd.in/eiVBFMZa

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club will compete against its fiercest rivals Arsenal F.C FC during a summer preseason tour of Hong Kong this summer. The fixture on 31 July 2025 will take place at the Kai Talk Stadium which opened in March 2025 and will be the centrepiece of Hong Kong’s latest development of boosting its sports and entertainment strategy. https://lnkd.in/eD9_pNF7

Birmingham City FC's partner, God55, is under investigation by the MGA 🔍 The Malaysian casino, who are the Asian Betting Partners of the League 1 Leaders, were discovered to be misleading consumers over claims it held an MGA license, after investigation by iGaming Expert and Insider Sport ❌ The Midlands club, owned in part by #NFL great Tom Brady, described God55 in a press release on their official website as "one of Southeast Asia’s most popular and trusted operators" The claims to be licensed by three gambling regulators: the #MGA, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (#PAGCOR) and the Curaçao Gaming Authority (#CGA) However, upon investigation, iGaming Expert found no evidence that God55 has a valid licence from any of these regulators in their databases 🙅♂️ 🗣️ The MGA confirmed it does not license the Asian-facing bookmaker and that “any reference to the authority is therefore false and misleading”. Check out the full story that uncovers the details and discovery, first broken by Insider Sport's Kieran O'Connor ✍ ⬇️

Manchester City Football Club is looking to expand on its growing fanbase in Vietnam in partnership with Masan Consumer Holdings' Wake-Up 24/7. https://lnkd.in/eSmvNzsM

FIFA Club World Cup triggers new Premier League transfer rules ⚽🔃 The Premier League has announced an additional transfer window this summer to accommodate the two clubs participating in the FIFA Club World Cup. 🏆 At a shareholders meeting yesterday, England’s top-flight division agreed on a new summer transfer window format. The window will open early, between 1 June and 10 June, reopening on 16 June and closing again on 1 September. Manchester City Football Club and Chelsea Football Club are set to compete in the revamped Club World Cup this summer, which will take place in the US between 15 June and 13 July. Given the dates of the tournament, FIFA approved an exceptional registration period in October. https://lnkd.in/eBe96xUR

This week's esports report 👇 ⚾ Konami Digital Entertainment partners with Major League Baseball (MLB) for mobile-focused deal 🐋 Nintendo hits marketing home run with the Seattle Mariners 🦉 Sheffield Wednesday Football Club’s OWLS Esports boosts tech with Enigma Net https://lnkd.in/d2Qxs_su

Premier League set to discuss Coca-Cola deal at shareholder meeting ⚽ The Premier League is reportedly close to welcoming back Coca-Cola as its official soft drinks partner, with a potential deal set to be agreed as early as today. England’s top-flight league has been without a soft drinks partner since #CocaCola’s previous deal expired in 2022. However, Sky News reported that the beverage giant is in talks to make a comeback. 🤝 A deal worth millions is on the table, according to the publication’s sources, which could be finalised at the Premier League’s shareholders meeting today. https://lnkd.in/eWU6D6Zt

Flávio Sampaio hopes for Porsche Cup win in crypto-powered car The Porsche Cup Brasil 2025 has made history by welcoming its first cryptocurrency sponsor, with Bitget teaming up with driver Flávio Sampaio. Sampaio will compete in the series, with his car featuring the distinctive black-and-cyan livery of Bitget, the #cryptocurrency exchange, when the season kicks off in April. Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget, stated: “This partnership isn’t just about speed on the track – it’s about accelerating innovation in the crypto space. We find that Flavio’s sportsmanship also dwells on the same principles that drive Bitget: strategy, adaptability, and high-performance execution. “Aligning with a motorsport professional for a series known for its precision and competitiveness allows us to engage with an audience that values both technological advancement and calculated risk-taking.” https://lnkd.in/eWhwjzkD

MPs place bets on Grand National to support charities 💰🏇 UK MPs and peers are preparing to place bets at local bookmakers ahead of the Grand National next weekend, as horseracing attendance continues to decline. To promote the UK’s biggest horse racing event, the UK’s betting industry trade body, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), will give each MP £50 to place a bet on the race. All winnings will be donated to a charity of the MP’s choice. If they don’t win, they will contribute £250 to their nominated charity. Last year’s Charity Bet raised over £15,000 for various causes. 🗣️ Grainne Hurst, CEO of BGC, said: “The Grand National is one of the very few global sporting occasions with the power to bring the whole nation together, spurred on by the history, the heritage and the incredible spectacle it offers. “It truly is the nation’s punt, and we are absolutely delighted to work alongside our amazing members to ensure the Grand National once again also supports some amazing charities.” https://lnkd.in/eX__YsrN