Bolton Wanderers pledge support to gambling sponsorship reform
EFL side signs up with Against the Odds as it looks to raise awareness into gambling-related harm
Bolton Wanderers have ramped up their support for ending gambling sponsorship in football after joining forces with Against the Odds.
The League One side, which has previously pledged support to Gambling with Lives, has signed up to the Against the Odds Charter in an effort to shine a light on the impact of gambling sponsorship in the sport.
The club and its community outreach programme, Bolton Wanderers in the Community, will provide leadership across football to send a message to other clubs to consider their existing and future relationships with gambling firms.
The Against the Odds campaign will initially focus its efforts in Greater Manchester.
According to the group, an estimated 1 in 200 people in Greater Manchester are experiencing severe gambling harms.
Sharon Brittan, Bolton Wanderers chair, said: “Gambling addiction can have a devastating effect on individuals and their families and communities, and that’s why Bolton Wanderers Football Club is pledging our formal support of the pioneering Against the Odds campaign by signing their charter.
“As a club, we are proud of the role we play in our community and, along with Bolton Wanderers in the Community, we will continue to be a driving force in supporting the health and wellbeing of all the residents of our town,” she added.
Michael Viggars, Against the Odds campaign lead, commented: “A huge congratulations to Bolton Wanderers FC and Bolton Wanderers in the Community for embracing the Against the Odds campaign and pioneering a future for sport that is free from gambling sponsorship and advertising.”