if you're going to sign a bookmaker as sponsor, at least check they are licensed

Cardiff City FC showed that wisdom and commercial acumen aren't amongst their fortes with this deal.

Unlicensed 777Ball Told to Suspend Football Sponsorship

Days after signing a one-year shirt sponsorship agreement with 777ball.com, Football League Championship side Cardiff City FC has been forced to remove its sponsor's logo from shirts, after the Gambling Commission warned that the Asian online gaming operator had not obtained a UK operating licence which would enable it to advertise in the country.

Has anyone ever heard of them? Apparently they have a licence in the Philippines, in the First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation. They don't have a UK licence and the Philippines isn't a country of the UK Gambling Commission's White List of territories outside the European Union, implying naivety at its best from both the club and the bookmaker.

The bookmaker says it will now apply for the relevant licence - good luck getting that before next season then!

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