SPFL RETAINS LADBROKES AS TITLE SPONSORS

LADBROKES will remain as title sponsors of the Scottish Professional Football League until at least 2020, after a new two-year deal was signed today.

The deal, which will encompass the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, extends the betting company’s title sponsorship of the four professional divisions that began in 2015.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “We are thrilled that Ladbrokes has chosen to extend their title sponsorship of the SPFL for a further two years.

“We have enjoyed a superb partnership since they first came on board in 2015, and are confident that will continue and flourish until 2020 and hopefully beyond.

“We are also aware of our social responsibilities as a senior professional league in Scotland and will continue to promote a message of responsible gambling in conjunction with Ladbrokes.”

Chief executive officer of Ladbrokes Coral Group Jim Mullen said:  "We are delighted to be renewing the sponsorship of the SPFL. We knew when we started the sponsorship that we were associating with a sport that is followed with passion and dedication and it has proved to be an excellent partnership. 

“Football beats at the heart of Scottish life, the cafes and canteens echo to the football conversation every week and we are delighted to be part of that conversation.

"In being at the heart of the discussion we also want to make sure that it reflects that gambling should be fun, not a problem, and that is why our continued sponsorship will enable us to promote responsible gambling and work with clubs to ensure that the integrity of the sport is upheld.

“We take our role as a sponsor seriously and we take our role to help customers keep gambling fun just as seriously."

Ladbrokes has played a key role in industry initiatives to promote responsible gambling including linking executive pay to responsible gambling targets as well as playing an active role in the use of industry-wide responsible gambling advertising.  As part of its plan for the 2018/19 season it intends to work with the SPFL to promote responsible gambling both within the game and with the wider football fan base.