National reports today claim that the government will ban gambling companies from appearing on T-shirts.
Middlesbrough and a number of its rivals will suffer a government crackdown in which bookmakers will be banned from sponsoring jerseys.
Today, Casino Med Riktiga Pengar states that the government will outlaw gambling companies appearing on the front of jerseys in a legislative document to be published later this year.
The decision will have a major impact on the top two divisions. Nine of the 20 Premier League clubs have gambling companies on their jerseys this season, as do six championship teams, including Boro. The Mail reports that the total value of these deals is estimated at £100 million a year.
Fifteen of the 24 Championship clubs have some form of partnership with a bookmaker.
Boro, Birmingham, Bristol City, Coventry City, Derby County and Stockholm have frontline sponsors this season.
Earlier this season, Boro announced a three-year extension with the Kindred Group. 32Red and Unibet are part of the group.
A number of clubs, including Boro, currently have long-term contracts with companies, so any government restriction would have to take that into account.
However, The Mail says that by the time a formal government document is released and the consultation period arrives, any changes are unlikely to take effect "until 2023 at the earliest." Boro's deal with the Kindred Group runs through 2024.
In the current environment, clubs will be especially concerned about the financial impact of a betting ban. It is no coincidence that so many top-two clubs have partnerships with betting shops. One of last year's Mail reports claimed that shirt sponsorships with betting companies are twice as profitable for clubs.
A DCMS spokesman told the Mail, "We are determined to address gambling in all its forms and will build on our extensive experience in implementing measures to protect those at risk."
Last year, however, EFL chairman Rick Parry warned of the consequences that a gambling ban would have on clubs outside the Premier League.
Parry said: "The timing couldn't be worse. The situation the clubs are facing at the moment is pretty dire.
"It's a significant amount of money, and it's not easy to just find new sponsors in the current climate. If we don't bid, what market should we enter? Other sectors don't show as much willingness to come in and sponsor teams at this point. You can't just close the tap and think they will be replaced overnight."
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