European Football Clubs Partner with Illegal & Blocked Betting Brands in Türkiye

Süperbetin Parma Sponsorship In recent years, several European football clubs have entered into sponsorship agreements with online betting companies that are inaccessible in Türkiye. These partnerships, often framed as regional or digital collaborations, enable betting brands to enhance their visibility among Turkish audiences despite being officially blocked by the country’s authorities.

Below is a detailed overview of these sponsorships, organized by betting company and their respective club partnerships:

Bets10: One of Turkiye’s Largest Betting Sites Partnering with Major European Clubs

Bets10 has signed high-profile regional sponsorship deals with clubs like Real Betis and Benfica to boost its visibility in the Turkiye market.

Real Betis: Bets10 has been announced as the regional betting partner for Real Betis in Türkiye.
Benfica: The Portuguese club has signed a partnership with Bets10, making it the official betting partner for the Turkish region until 2027.

Sekabet: Aggressively Expanding in Turkiye Through Sponsorships with La Liga and Serie A Teams

Sekabet has partnered with clubs such as AC Milan, Athletic Bilbao, Girona, and Lazio, positioning itself as a regional betting partner for Turkiye.

AC Milan: Sekabet has become the official regional betting partner of AC Milan in Türkiye.
Girona FC: The betting company has been named the official betting partner of Girona FC in Türkiye.
Athletic Bilbao: Sekabet has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Athletic Bilbao, enhancing its brand presence in the Turkish market.
Lazio: The Italian club has partnered with Sekabet, designating it as a regional betting partner.

Superbetin: Turkiye-Focused Betting Brand Sponsoring Clubs from Ireland to Italy

Superbetin has funded sponsorship deals with clubs like Parma, Livingston, and Bray Wanderers, using European football visibility to target Turkiye’s market.

Parma Calcio 1913: Süperbetin has been involved in sponsorship activities with Parma, including stadium advertising and promotional campaigns.
Bray Wanderers: The betting company initiated its sponsorship ventures with Bray Wanderers, offering goal-based bonuses and other promotions.
Livingston, St. Mirren, Motherwell, St. Johnstone: Süperbetin has engaged in pitchside advertising with these Scottish clubs, increasing its visibility in the region.

Meritking: Controversial Sponsorship Deals Starting with Galatasaray

Meritking first became known through its partnership with Galatasaray and has since expanded sponsorships to Real Betis, Torino, Monaco Basket, and others, often under its media arm Meritking.news.

Galatasaray: Former official sponsor, marking Meritking’s entry into the Turkiye market.
Real Betis: Sleeve sponsor for UEFA Conference League matches, bypassing Betis’ official betting partner Bets10 for Turkiye visibility.
Torino FC: Named “Regional Information-Entertainment Partner” for Europe, announced on Torino’s official website.
Real Valladolid: Signed a three-year sponsorship, expanding Meritking.news’ presence in football media, announced on the club’s official site.
Deportivo Alaves: Initial sponsorship confirmed but later removed from the club’s website.
Parma: Sponsorship claimed but never officially confirmed by the club.
Monza: Similar to Parma, partnership claimed by Meritking but absent from official channels.
Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade): Advertising spotted on LED boards, although no formal announcement was made.
Monaco Basketball: Official media partner, confirmed on Monaco’s site, with Meritking.news promoted as a trusted sports media outlet.

Betsat: From Ireland to Brazil, Targeting Turkiye’s Market with Strategic Sponsorships

Betsat has partnered with clubs like Limerick FC and Vitoria FC, aiming to grow its brand in both European and South American markets while primarily targeting Turkiye.

Limerick FC: The betting company initiated its sponsorship activities with Limerick FC, serving as the club’s shirt sponsor.
Motherwell, Livingston, Hibernian: Betsat has engaged in pitchside advertising with these Scottish clubs, enhancing its brand visibility.
Vitória FC (Brazil): Betsat signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Vitória FC, representing a significant step in its expansion into the Brazilian market.

Tempobet: Strengthening Legitimacy via Sponsorships in the UK Market

Tempobet secured notable deals with Burton Albion and Arsenal, enhancing its legal footprint while continuing to attract bettors from Turkiye.

Burton Albion: Tempobet has been the principal partner and shirt sponsor for Burton Albion, marking the club’s largest sponsorship deal.
Arsenal FC: The betting company entered into a three-year regional betting partnership with Arsenal, focusing on the Turkish market.

Sportsbet.io: Globally Licensed Operator Targeting Turkiye with Regional Deals

Sportsbet.io, despite holding international licenses, has partnered with Hull City as its “Turkiye Betting Partner” and secured additional deals with Newcastle United and Independiente to boost its presence in Turkiye.

Hull City: Sportsbet.io has become the official Turkish betting partner and back-of-shorts sponsor for Hull City, aiming to strengthen its presence in the Turkish market.

Marsbet: A Turkiye-Focused Operator with a Widespread Sponsorship Network

Marsbet has built a diverse sponsorship portfolio, partnering with clubs across Europe and South America, including Austria Wien, Zorya Luhansk, Juventude, and Palestino.

Hibernian FC: Marsbet has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Hibernian, with its logo appearing on the men’s first-team shorts.
EC Juventude: The Brazilian club has partnered with Marsbet, enhancing the betting company’s visibility in South America.
FK Austria Wien: Marsbet has entered into a sponsorship agreement with FK Austria Wien, expanding its presence in European football.
FC Zorya Luhansk: The Ukrainian club has signed a sponsorship deal with Marsbet, featuring the company’s logo on team kits.
Dinamo Tbilisi: Marsbet has partnered with Dinamo Tbilisi, furthering its reach in the Georgian market.
Dila Gori: The betting company has established a sponsorship with Dila Gori, enhancing its brand presence in Georgia.
Nömme Kalju FC: Marsbet has become the shirt sponsor for Nömme Kalju FC, increasing its visibility in Estonia.
CD Palestino: The Chilean club has partnered with Marsbet, marking the betting company’s expansion into South America.
Jeunesse Sportive Soualem: Marsbet has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Jeunesse Sportive Soualem, expanding its presence in Morocco.
Cumbayá FC: The Ecuadorian club has partnered with Marsbet, enhancing the betting company’s visibility in the region.
Atlético Bucaramanga: Marsbet became the front-of-shirt sponsor for the Colombian club, which later faced legal issues due to Marsbet’s unlicensed status in the country.
Atlético Tucumán: Marsbet claimed a sponsorship deal with the Argentinian club, although no official announcement was made on the club’s official channels.

Jojobet: Short-Lived but Notable Sponsorship with Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk

Jojobet’s only major sponsorship was with Zorya Luhansk during their UEFA Europa League match against Fenerbahçe, aimed squarely at Turkiye’s betting audience.

FC Zorya Luhansk: Jojobet served as the shirt sponsor for Ukrainian club Zorya Luhansk during the 2016/17 season, marking its sole known football sponsorship.

European Club Sponsorships by Turkish-Facing Betting Sites Highlight the Scale of Turkiye’s Unregulated Market

The growing number of sponsorship deals between European football clubs and betting sites that target the Turkiye market reveals the vast economic scale of the country’s unregulated online gambling sector. Despite these companies being officially blocked and labeled as “illegal” by Turkiye’s authorities, they continue to expand their visibility through high-profile partnerships across Europe.

This situation underscores a fundamental contradiction: while these betting companies are barred from advertising or operating legally in Turkiye, the restrictive, state-controlled monopoly over the betting industry prevents local clubs from accessing potentially lucrative sponsorship deals. Instead of benefiting domestic sports institutions, these sponsorship funds—generated largely from Turkiye’s betting market—flow into the coffers of European clubs in leagues like Serie A, La Liga, and the Premier League.

Had Turkiye adopted a liberal and competitive regulatory framework for the betting industry, similar to many European countries, these companies could have sought proper licensing, paid taxes, and contributed directly to the Turkish economy. This would likely have enabled Turkish football clubs to secure sponsorship agreements with betting firms, as seen in Europe, providing them with essential financial support. However, due to the monopolistic structure and limited legal avenues within Turkiye, these sponsorship revenues bypass local clubs and strengthen the financial positions of foreign teams instead.

In the broader picture, this complex web of cross-border partnerships emphasizes the need for regulatory reconsideration in Turkiye. Without addressing the legal grey zones and monopoly-driven policies, the country risks losing significant economic potential while also leaving its betting market vulnerable to offshore operations that operate outside the state’s control. The result is a growing disparity where European football thrives on sponsorship income derived from Turkish bettors, while Turkiye’s domestic clubs remain financially constrained under the current legal framework.