Shilton fumes at EFL-Sky Bet profit share scheme

ENGLAND legend Peter Shilton

has condemned the EFL gambling deal which saw clubs make profits from their own fans’ gambling losses, as Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince called on football to kick its gambling habit for good.

Under the EFL’s deal with Sky Bet, clubs would get a percentage share of a punter’s losses if they registered with the bookie via their club.

The deal started in 2013 and the practice was only curtailed in 2020 with some clubs still being paid for the losses their fans incurred up to then.

Shilton, who won 125 caps for England, spent much of his life battling a gambling addiction and now campaigns against gambling ads in football.

‘It seems football clubs were taking the money instead of looking after their fans,’ said the former goalkeeper. ‘It’s just one example of the way some clubs operate. There are adverts on shirts and billboards throughout the stadiums.

‘Football has always been a family game and I don’t think that’s right for a family. Gambling ruins lives. There is one suicide a day and many people are getting addicted.’

The EFL say the practice was discontinued when it renewed the Sky Bet deal in 2020 because it was putting greater focus on safer gambling.

However, that isn’t enough for Forest Green owner Vince, whose club work with The Big Step, a charity set up by bereaved families campaigning to end gambling companies advertising in football.

Vince said: ‘This (Sky Bet profit share) scheme seems quite egregious but I’m not sure it’s any different to taking the corporate shilling of a gambling company and sticking their brand in front of their fans to encourage loss-making activity.

‘We think that football can live without gambling money.’