The Alliance Against Sports Betting Advertising has accused UEFA and certain German government bodies of neglecting the issue of gambling problems due to their sponsorship deal with Betano. The criticism stems from a sponsorship agreement between UEFA and Betano's parent company, Kaizen Gaming, for Euro 2024.
The alliance pointed out that this partnership marked the first instance of a gambling company sponsoring a football event in Germany. It criticized the lack of initiatives to address gambling addiction, especially when contrasted with the efforts against doping in sports funded by the state.
Highlighting statistics indicating around 1.3 million people in Germany struggling with gambling addiction, the alliance emphasized the need for preventive measures. It claimed that UEFA's actions are normalizing betting, potentially leading to gambling addiction among young football enthusiasts, which is being ignored or downplayed.
The Alliance Against Sports Betting Advertising comprises Transparency International Germany and fan group Our Curve, advocating for a more responsible approach to sports betting advertising.
