Their worth is in allowing operators access to the global banking system, particularly through so-called 'neo-banks' which have looser anti-money-laundering regulations. The licences they hold – when they hold one – are by and large worthless. All of them have been or are partners of so-called ‘Asian-facing’ gambling companies who pay massive amounts of money to associate their brands with the players, names and history of these prestigious institutions in order to get the exposure and credibility they need to attract customers in the Far East, where advertising sports betting is prohibited in almost all jurisdictions.Īll of these gambling companies, which also sponsor a multitude of other, less famous clubs throughout Europe, as well as leagues and national federations such as Belgium, Wales or Argentina, do almost all of their business in countries which outlaw and even criminalise sports gambling.ĭespite that, none of the gambling companies are effectively regulated. But success is not the only thing they have in common.
