Crystal Palace has become the latest Premier League club to secure a new front-of-shirt sponsor ahead of the Premier League’s incoming voluntary ban on gambling companies.
The Eagles have confirmed a deal with US-based AI firm Temporal, which will replace current front-of shirt sponsor NET88 from the 2026/27 season.
It follows AFC Bournemouth’s agreement to make long-term partner Vitality its front-of-shirt sponsor, which was announced back in December 2025. Vitality will replace BJ88 – an operator which is not licensed in the UK, though it was formerly under a white label partnership with the now-defunct TGP Europe.
UK-licensed betting firm NET88 will take solace in the fact that the last game it will appear on the front of a Crystal Palace shirt will be for the club’s first-ever European final next week.
Why did Crystal Palace deal cause immediate controversy?
The Asian betting company became Crystal Palace’s front-of-shirt sponsor at the beginning of the 2024/25 season in a record deal, but the partnership had its critics from the outset.
Although the operator is a regulated bookmaker, upon signing the Crystal Palace deal back in June 2024, it was yet to have any sort of presence in the UK, with even its website yet to go live at the time.
The white-label firm is managed by RISQ Capital, which has run into controversy regarding another of its operators’ sponsorship of a Premier League club.
RISQ also operates DEBET, the front-of-shirt sponsor for Wolverhampton Wanderers. While DEBET is also licensed on these shores, its domain – debet.co.uk – is currently listed as ‘inactive’ on the Gambling Commission’s website, but is easily accessible for UK residents.
Nevertheless, the news of Crystal Palace finding a new deal will be welcome news for both the club and the many figures who are opposed to gambling sponsorship in the Premier League.
Entain on hunt for full unlicensed sponsorship ban
One household gambling business – Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain – has been especially compliant, having withdrawn from participating any form of sponsorship of English and Scottish football since the 2019/20 season.
However, its Chief Executive Officer, Stella David, seems to be running out of patience with regulators and appropriate bodies as she pushes for a complete ban on unlicensed operators sponsoring English clubs.
“It cannot be right that clubs competing in the world’s most watched football league are promoting gambling brands that do not hold a UK licence,” David said back in February.
“These operators do not contribute to British sport, they do not pay UK gambling duties, and they do not uphold the standards of player protection that our regulated market is built upon.”
Just last week, the LSE-listed company’s General Counsel, Simon Zinger, wrote to six Premier League sides – Burnley, Bournemouth, Fulham, Everton, Sunderland and Wolves – to ask that they only use licensed operators for any kind of sponsorship deals from next season.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has committed to reviewing gambling advertising arrangements, with the government set to consult on imposing a blanket ban covering unlicensed operators, but there has been more or less radio silence since this was first announced in February.
David stated: “We welcome the government’s commitment to review this area, and Lisa Nandy has been clear that protecting consumers is a priority.
“But while a consultation runs its course, clubs are ordering next season’s kits and commercial deals are being signed. The Premier League does not need to wait – it can act now.”