Ireland’s top amateur sports body bans all betting sponsorship

Ireland’s top amateur sporting organization has overwhelmingly voted to prohibit all sponsorship by betting companies.

On Saturday, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) held its annual congress at Dublin’s Croke Park, at which 93% of the 270 voting delegates voted to ban “sponsorship by a betting company of any competition, team, playing gear or facility.”

The congress also voted (by a slightly smaller margin) to prohibit the brand of any sponsor – gambling or otherwise – from being “allowed on clothing and gear of match officials.”

No inter-country GAA teams have betting sponsorships at present, but Armagh football has a deal with Irish bookmakers Boylesports and All-Ireland club champs Crossmaglen Rangers are sponsored by Bar One Racing. Both deals will expire at the end of their current terms.