Everton are set to be warned over their promotion of shirt sponsor Stake.
The bookmaker will shut down its UK website next month after a Gambling Commission investigation into its logo appearing in social media video of an adult actress.
A spokesperson for Stake insists the move is a ‘strategic decision’ taken in tandem with the site’s operators TGP Europe Limited to cease operations from March 11.
However the ramifications will extend to the Blues, who trumpeted their arrival as new sponsors in summer 2022 as the most lucrative deal in their entire history.
The Gambling Commission are set to contact Goodison Park officials about the risk they take by continuing to promote Stake as an ‘unlawful’ gambling website.
A statement read: “The Commission will be writing to Everton – along with two other football clubs with unlicensed sponsors – warning of the risks of promoting unlawful gambling websites.
“The Commission will seek assurance from the clubs that they have carried out due diligence on their white label partners and that consumers in Great Britain cannot transact with the unlicensed sites.
“Clubs will be asked to demonstrate that they have assurance that any steps to geo-block the sites are effective, recognising that some blocking can be easily by-passed by use of tools such as a Virtual Private Network.
“Clubs will be expected to carry out sufficient due diligence to assure the Commission that consumers cannot transact with the sites from Great Britain by any means.
“The Commission will also be taking steps to independently verify effective measures are in place.
“The letter will warn that club officers may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment or both if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain.”