Shirt Sponsor 23/24 - BK8

[algy]

How many people who are against gambling sponsors, gamble themselves?

I gamble and don't have a strong opinion either way about whether we should accept sponsorship money from a gambling company. The league Cup has been called the Worthington Cup, and the Carling Cup, and I think Carling has sponsored the Scottish teams. Alcohol also has the potential to ruin lives but drinking is part of the match day experience for a lot of fans.

Should alcohol sponsors be allowed?

Don't gamble personally, my partner will put a beer on the grand national end occasionally but a scratch card. Do drink, albeit fairly irregularly now.

We don't allow people to advertise fags, and rightly so. I think exactly the same rules should apply to booze, gambling, sex workers, and recreational drugs personally. Shouldn't be illegal, but certainly shouldn't be allowed to advertise.

[Louzie0]

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.

I have to disagree, there's an awful lot wrong with
 gambling companies and the damage their practices cause to communities including our own (Villa supporters). A public stand from the club that we will never "partner" with a betting company would generate far better PR and goodwill than whatever paltry amount this crowd are pumping in.

As an example, The GAA in Ireland has banned any sponsorship by gambling companies of any team in recent years. AVFC can certainly afford to do without BK8 and shouldn't need the FA stepping in to stop it outright. With the match ticket prices in the midst of a cost of living crisis also shooting up, it does give the sense of a club increasingly disconnected from it's community and supporters.

re gambling, I worked in the industry for over 15 years (and am probably going to end up back in it soon enough) so obviously have a different stance re gambling per se, but if it's currently allowed (and TBH, I'd ban it) then we're not doing anything wrong IMO. I am far more bothered about the other crypto gambling wankers we'd in bed with, they're much dodgier.

I'd also suggest we do need the money, otherwise we'd have a more prestigious sponsor paying more money.

Revenue has to come from somewhere, it's pretty tough for us to say no to this sponsor or that one, no to more expensive tickets etc etc. It's easy to say "don't do that" but tougher to say "do that instead" and point at something realistic.

Picking up on your comment re ‘What I wonder is why we are poking around at the BK8 end of the gambling sponsor market’. Which firms would you think would be more appropriate for Villa to approach and would a sudden improvement in fortunes in the League upen a few more doors?

I was rather irritated when I read about the BK8 / Norwich experience, which is why I’m asking. Why would our club want to be associated with anything like this kind of publicity, years ago or not? There have to be better betting business options for sponsoring our club.

[brontebilly]

How many people who are against gambling sponsors, gamble themselves?

I gamble and don't have a strong opinion either way about whether we should accept sponsorship money from a gambling company. The league Cup has been called the Worthington Cup, and the Carling Cup, and I think Carling has sponsored the Scottish teams. Alcohol also has the potential to ruin lives but drinking is part of the match day experience for a lot of fans.

Should alcohol sponsors be allowed?

I gamble occasionally but gambling advertising is vile. That utter gimp Paddy Power and their hilarious ads, if you want an expose of a top tier betting partner, have a read of 'Tony10,' it's a shocking tale. The pervasive influence of their mass advertising around nearly every sporting event, like that twat Ray Winstone "have a bang on that". You ever start having a winning streak with some of these companies and they won't be long restricting your stakes but losers always welcome.

Alcohol is a whataboutery argument but still I would be in favour of banning advertising. People will still drink and beer will still be part of the matchday experience without advertising. Gambling is a far more corrosive influence on society I think.

[Beard82]

I don't have a massive issue with gambling advertising - I understand the damage etc - but football sold its soul long ago and we have long accepted some of the prices you have to pay as a result. 

I have a problem with the kind of adverts they use

[ChicagoLion]

Poor show.

[Zouch Villa]

The sooner there’s a blanket ban on all sports sponsorship for all sports the better. The whole industry is a blight on our game.

[Brazilian Villain]

I have a problem with the kind of adverts they use

Yes, the numerous adverts (Harry Redknapp etc.) irritate me far more than the shirt sponsorship as do the 'footie plus cash' competitions ITV features in its football coverage. I'll be really miffed though if the BK8 logo incorporates Chinese script as it always makes any shirt look like sh!t.

[chrisw1]

I don't have a massive issue with gambling advertising - I understand the damage etc - but football sold its soul long ago and we have long accepted some of the prices you have to pay as a result. 

I have a problem with the kind of adverts they use

Used.  I'm sure they are still no angels, but on the face of it they cleaned up their act after the Norwich issues and appear to have (possibly token) involvement with community work and charities etc with their current clubs.

They are currently Palace, Burnley & Huddersfield's betting partners and were involved with a few La Liga clubs including Villarreal - all agreed after the Norwich problems.

Any gambling firm tie up is problematic, but I'm not sure there's much to get worked up about Bk8 in comparison to most of the other gambling sponsors out there.

[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.

I have to disagree, there's an awful lot wrong with
 gambling companies and the damage their practices cause to communities including our own (Villa supporters). A public stand from the club that we will never "partner" with a betting company would generate far better PR and goodwill than whatever paltry amount this crowd are pumping in.

As an example, The GAA in Ireland has banned any sponsorship by gambling companies of any team in recent years. AVFC can certainly afford to do without BK8 and shouldn't need the FA stepping in to stop it outright. With the match ticket prices in the midst of a cost of living crisis also shooting up, it does give the sense of a club increasingly disconnected from it's community and supporters.

re gambling, I worked in the industry for over 15 years (and am probably going to end up back in it soon enough) so obviously have a different stance re gambling per se, but if it's currently allowed (and TBH, I'd ban it) then we're not doing anything wrong IMO. I am far more bothered about the other crypto gambling wankers we'd in bed with, they're much dodgier.

I'd also suggest we do need the money, otherwise we'd have a more prestigious sponsor paying more money.

Revenue has to come from somewhere, it's pretty tough for us to say no to this sponsor or that one, no to more expensive tickets etc etc. It's easy to say "don't do that" but tougher to say "do that instead" and point at something realistic.

Picking up on your comment re ‘What I wonder is why we are poking around at the BK8 end of the gambling sponsor market’. Which firms would you think would be more appropriate for Villa to approach and would a sudden improvement in fortunes in the League upen a few more doors?

I was rather irritated when I read about the BK8 / Norwich experience, which is why I’m asking. Why would our club want to be associated with anything like this kind of publicity, years ago or not? There have to be better betting business options for sponsoring our club.

The better we do, the more exposure we get, the more appealing we are to sponsors, the higher profile sponsors look at us. Look at the sponsors of the top clubs, none of them are gambling industry. BK8 are not a big player even in the gambling industry, so will not have paid much for the right to be associated with us.

It just surprises me that, despite our new clued up commercial overlords, we're still attracting unimpressive small-fry sponsors.

[sid1964]

I would not be bothered if as a country we ban all booze, illegal drugs, gambling, and smoking (including vapes).

I do not do any of the above and have no interest in doing them

[pauliewalnuts]

I would not be bothered if as a country we ban all booze, illegal drugs, gambling, and smoking (including vapes).

Ban illegal drugs?

[Axl Rose]

It looks shit on a shirt, that sponsor. Fuck me.

[Clampy]

I would not be bothered if as a country we ban all booze, illegal drugs, gambling, and smoking (including vapes).

I do not do any of the above and have no interest in doing them

Thats very kind of you Sid.

[Chico Hamilton III]

How much are we being paid to have a gambling logo on our shirt? I hate all this shit

[Flin5tone]

BK8 was previously axed by Norwich City in the summer of 2021 over sexually provocative adverts. The brand apologised and has since attempted to remarket itself, announcing partnerships with Crystal Palace, Burnley and Huddersfield.

Sound like a lovely company. Do the club no longer have any morals or standards? Are we really that desperate for dodgy money