Online Casino Gets Red Card in Football Sponsorship Deal
Bwin’s Real Madrid sponsorship criticised by Spanish watchdog
Wednesday 20th June 2007
Austrian online betting firm Bwin is commiserating after its recent shirt sponsorship deal with Real Madrid FC was called into question by Spain’s communication watchdog, Asociación de Usuarios de la Comunicación (AUC).
AUC has sent in a formal complaint to Spain’s Ministry of Economy and Taxes, claiming the partnership between the two companies is contravening up to eight Spanish laws, which they allege make it illegal for unlicensed online casino companies to promote their services in Spain.
However, Real Madrid, who won the Spanish league title on Sunday wearing shirts emblazoned with Bwin logo, are one of a number of gambling firms to be pulled up on similar charges by the AUC. 888.com’s shirt sponsorship of Seville was also scrutinised by the regulatory body.
Francisco Antonio Gonzales, the sports spokesman for Spain’s opposition party, Partido Popular, warned the management of the football teams that they should expect further reproaches if the deals are considered to be illegal.
Austrian online betting firm Bwin is commiserating after its recent shirt sponsorship deal with Real Madrid FC was called into question by Spain’s communication watchdog, Asociación de Usuarios de la Comunicación (AUC).