Liverpool and Chelsea End 1xBet Sponsorships

Major football clubs Liverpool and Chelsea have suspended their sponsorship deals with 1xBet after the betting group had their UK gaming license pulled.

The move sees the two clubs pulling the license shortly after Tottenham Hotspur made a similar move, and also followed a warning from the UK Gaming Commission. That warning expressed concerns about a team working with an unlicensed gambling operator. There have been a series of allegations against 1xBet's conduct, with the group allegedly using illegal streaming sites to advertise and offering odds on youth matches.

Commenting on the issue a UKGC spokesperson said, "We're of the view that the best way for sports bodies to protect themselves against this risk is to ensure that they only promote gambling operators licensed by us.

"As a result of concerns regarding 1xBet we recently wrote to Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC to remind them that organisations engaging in sponsorship, and associated advertising arrangements, with an unlicensed operator may be liable to prosecution under section 330 of the Act for the offence of advertising unlawful gambling."