NHS chief urges football clubs to pick up betting bill

THE Premier League must do more to help pick up the bill caused by gambling, the head of the NHS has warned.

Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, was ‘deeply concerned’ eight foreign betting companies with shirt sponsorship deals at top clubs had not yet pledged money in this financial year to support charity Gamble Aware.

Industry regulator, the Gambling Commission, says 430,000 people in the UK have addictions, including 25,000 children under 16. Mr Stevens added: ‘We need to get the Premier League to ask them to ensure foreign gambling firms are playing their part.’ Nine in 20 Premier League teams and 17 out of 24 Championship teams are sponsored by gambling companies.

The Gambling Commission wants betting companies to donate £10million annually to support addiction services.

Premier League clubs are thought to have received over £45million in kit sponsorships from foreign betting firms.

The Remote Gambling Association, which represents online gambling firms, said it supports a statutory levy.