Shirt Sponsor 23/24 - BK8

[Yeltzer]

Seems we have signed a deal with devil according to the Telegraph.

3 year deal with BK8 who Norwich ditched after 3 days after their tweets were linked with sex sites.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/01/10/aston-villa-agree-deal-gambling-firm-dropped-norwich-due-sexualised/

[pauliewalnuts]

It doesn't actually say front of shirt, mind.

Poor judgement on this one from the club, still.

[chrisw1]

Aston Villa have signed a three-year deal with a controversial gambling sponsor axed by Norwich City over sexually provocative adverts.

Logos for online casino BK8 appear likely to feature on club jerseys, despite ongoing Premier League discussions around a voluntary betting ban on shirt fronts.

Precise details of the sponsorship deal have yet to be confirmed, but Villa were known to be in the market for a new front of shirt brand from next season. Cazoo, an online car retailer, says its current deal as lead sponsor expires at the end of the season. However, another source raised the possibility that the brand could feature on shirt sleeves.

Villa declined to comment on the deal, but anti-addiction campaigners expressed dismay that the club would consider any sort of partnership with BK8.

In the summer of 2021, Norwich had been forced to tear up a deal with the same Asian betting firm amid outrage among fans and locals who pointed out BK8 marketing on YouTube featured simulated sex acts with a sausage. One Instagram account that claimed to belong to a BK8 “ambassador” also claimed that they were linked directly to hardcore pornography.

Norwich clarified the adverts “do not align with the wider vision and values” of the club before eventually severing the shirt deal with BK8. The brand also apologised, removing some of the offensive content, and has since attempted to remarket itself, announcing recent smaller partnerships with Crystal Palace, Burnley and Huddersfield.

However, the deal with Villa is by far BK8’s biggest contract to date, and is already facing severe criticism from campaigners.

The deal comes to light just weeks before the Government is finally expected to publish its white paper on gambling reform next month.

Clubs have previously signalled privately that they were open to a voluntary clampdown on betting sponsors on shirts to fend off the threat of the Government bringing in legislation.

The Premier League was due to vote last summer on a ban on front-of-shirt sponsorship, but it was postponed, with top tier chief executive Richard Masters blaming the “political hiatus”.

However, doubt over a potential agreement has been fuelled by Everton, Fulham and Bournemouth agreeing shirt deals with betting operators for the current season.

Senior figures at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm said Villa’s incoming deal with BK8 for next season was “incredibly poor judgment”.

Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader who sits on the all-party group, told Telegraph Sport: “This is a very ill-judged move – particularly in the current context of clubs increasingly rejecting ties with gambling companies given the scale of harm they cause.”

James Grimes, founder of the Big Step campaign against gambling sponsorship, added: “This is a tone-deaf partnership in the face of inevitable government action on gambling ads and against a backdrop of mounting fan pressure – which caused the same online casino to be booted out of a club as recently as 2021.

“It is increasingly clear that desperate clubs can not be trusted on this issue – they continue to partner with gambling companies while lives are at stake. The Government must now take responsibility of this farcical situation and end gambling sponsorship in football in the imminent white paper.”

Villa are also one of eight Premier League clubs to have entered into recent partnerships with William Hill. The bookmaker sparked a recent outcry by launching “Home Shops” in club branding, which charities fear will lure in young supporters.

Villa declined to comment on the new arrangement with BK8, but outgoing sponsor Cazoo said in a statement: “The Cazoo sponsorship of Aston Villa Football Club was for three years and expires at the end of the current 2022/23 season. It has been a very strong and successful partnership for both parties and we are proud to have supported the club and raised over £120,000 for the Aston Villa Foundation during this time.”

BK8 has yet to respond, having been contacted by Telegraph Sport on Monday.

[pauliewalnuts]

It is a bit surprising that, despite the business acumen of the current regime, we can't raise our sponsorship appeal beyond the likes of BK8.

[Villatillidie25]

What was the issue with Norwich (can't read Telegraph link)? Was it that their adverts were a bit close to the line or something more sinister?
While it isn't necessarily great judgement, I suspect you'd struggle to find many betting firms (particularly the ones linked with football who nobody has ever heard of) that are above reproach ... not saying that makes it ok though.

Edit: just read the article. Sounds like they lack taste in the extreme...

[Nev]

The good news just keeps on coming...

[chrisw1]

I think betting firms sponsoring football should be banned, but until they are then in a competitive league it's reasonable for Villa to seek similar sponsorship deals to our direct competitiors.

In terms of the individual firms, I'm sure they're allmuch of a muchness.  Norwich dropped out because of some sexualised adverts (something to do with a sausage)  That was 3 years ago and the campaign was dropped.  It's a bit like an argument over whose despotic murdering owners are worse really, with Arsenal, Spurs and Man Utd fans currently twerking to the Qataris when they've spent the last 12 months slagging off Newcastle.

[dave.woodhall]

It is a bit surprising that, despite the business acumen of the current regime, we can't raise our sponsorship appeal beyond the likes of BK8.

Is exactly what I was thinking. We're still incredibly second -rare in some areas.

[PeterWithesShin]

Add this to Duelbits as pretty shit companies to be associated with.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think betting firms sponsoring football should be banned, but until they are then in a competitive league it's reasonable for Villa to seek similar sponsorship deals to our direct competitiors.

I don't think there is anything wrong with gambling sponsors.

What I wonder is why we are poking around at the BK8 end of the gambling sponsor market.

[chrisw1]

I think betting firms sponsoring football should be banned, but until they are then in a competitive league it's reasonable for Villa to seek similar sponsorship deals to our direct competitiors.

I don't think there is anything wrong with gambling sponsors.

What I wonder is why we are poking around at the BK8 end of the gambling sponsor market.

You're looking for the tallwest dwarf.  They all destroy lives.

[Villa Lew]

I think betting firms sponsoring football should be banned, but until they are then in a competitive league it's reasonable for Villa to seek similar sponsorship deals to our direct competitiors.

I don't think there is anything wrong with gambling sponsors.

What I wonder is why we are poking around at the BK8 end of the gambling sponsor market.

You're looking for the tallwest dwarf.  They all destroy lives.

Agree 100%, very disappointed in this deal.

[Toronto Villa]

On top of this some suggestion the Qatari’s involved at PSG are meeting with our owners at some point over possible investment.

[Dave P]

You dont have to Google too much to see the issue.  This is grim.

https://www.casino.org/news/epls-norwich-city-ditches-primary-sponsor-bk8-over-seedy-promos/

[Dave P]

Oh, but look who endorses them ...