Crystal Palace has announced that online sportsbook and casino operator W88 will sponsor the club’s shirts next season.
The W88 logo will now be placed on the Eagles’ home, away, third and goalkeeper kits for the 2021 campaign.
W88’s sponsorship deal with the Premier League club comes at a time when operator partnerships in English football have been hotly-discussed.
The company has already sponsored other clubs in the top-flight, including Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“We share a common ambition”
Since being promoted from the Championship in 2013, the Eagles have spent seven seasons in England’s top division and are preparing for their eighth. This is their longest spell in the Premier League, having previously been relegated straight after promotion every time before.
Palace Chairman Steve Parish spoke about the new partnership with W88. He believes that the two can have a successful future together and said the below.
“We are delighted to welcome W88 as a new Principal Partner and shirt sponsor for the 2020/21 season.
“As the Club begins a record eighth successive season in the Premier League, the most-watched league in the world, our international fanbase continues to grow.
“We share a common ambition to further extend our international footprint and we look forward to working in partnership with W88.”
“A brand which represents integrity, trust and excellence”
The topic of gambling-related shirt sponsors has been a dividing topic in recent months. Both the House of Lords and All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) have called for them to be banned in recent months.
With that being said, football clubs have been active in promoting responsible gambling initiatives. Championship side Reading has done this through its sponsorship with Casumo, while Palace themselves signed a partnership two years ago with GambleAware. Through this, ads and promotional materials at Selhurst Park highlight the risks related to gambling.
W88 Business Development Manager Hilly Elrich believes that the two will enjoy a fruitful relationship.
“We are delighted to be working with Crystal Palace, a club with a rich history in South London spanning more than a century.
“Apart from working closely with the Club’s management and players, we are also excited and looking forward to engaging with Palace fans, both in England and around the world, for a successful partnership.
“W88 has a global footprint and is a brand which represents integrity, trust and excellence.”
