Finance guru: Sunderland fans ‘exploited’ as top executives ‘dance with the devil’
Sunderland and the rest of their EFL have exploited their own fans by directly profiting from their gambling losses.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about recent revelations surrounding the EFL’s controversial deal Sky Bet.
As relayed by BBC Sport on Wednesday (28 September), EFL teams are still receiving a cut of gamblers’ losses if they sign up to Sky Bet via the club website.
That is despite the fact that the EFL claimed it had phased out this aspect of the deal during the 2019-29 campaign.
Gambling’s involvement in football is under the spotlight as commentators call for a ban on front-of-shirt advertising and more regulations in terms of so-called ‘white label’ betting firms.
The Black Cats signed a new three-year deal with online bookmaker and financial trading outlet Spreadex back in June.
Plumley claims that it is no great surprise that the clubs are continuing to earn cash from supporters’ losses given the nature of the gambling industry.
“It doesn’t look great,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“We have to remember that this is the basic premise of a gambling company. That’s how they make their money and how that money ultimately comes into football.
“You have to be aware of that when you’re dancing with the devil. We know fans get exploited in football, often by their own clubs.
“This is just the nature of the beast when you’re getting involved with gambling companies.”
In other news, Plumley issues “season-defining” claim amid Sunderland latest