In a new multi-year deal, Fun 88 will back Newcastle United’s growth in Asia, however, it will not do so as a shirt sponsor.
The official betting partnership will involve in-market initiatives, official club merchandise and VIP experiences for supporters across Asia.
“The club thanks Fun88 for its support over the past six campaigns and looks forward to working together over coming seasons,” said Newcastle United in a statement.
The Asian gaming and sports betting operator has been the club’s principal sponsor since the 2017/18 season, with the brand’s logo featuring prominently on the front of the team’s shirt.
Earlier in April, the Premier League agreed to ban gambling sponsors on the front of match day shirts from the end of the 2025/26 season.
While ongoing deals can continue till then, there have been media reports that Newcastle United is poised to replace the Fun88 with a record-breaking shirt sponsorship deal from a Middle Eastern brand in the upcoming season .
The Premier League also said it would look at working with other sports on the development of a new code for responsible gambling sponsorship across the professional sports sector.
According to ASN data, FUN88 is the fourth largest sponsor for its category (5.5%, ~US$25.5m) and this is primarily due to the deals it has with EPL clubs Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Asia Sponsorship News (ASN) is the leading market intelligence service for the sponsorship industry in Asia, which distributes independent news, analytics and insights on a subscription basis, with a bespoke consultancy and training service.
Comments