The betting firms are infamous for providing betting on children’s sports, other explicit content in their advertising. Cricket Ireland, thus, issued an apology for controversial advertisements during the recently concluded series against India at home. In India, the government has already banned advertisement of such illicit sites.

After receiving complaints about one of the sponsors, Sport Ireland contacted Cricket Ireland regarding their partnership with controversial gambling platforms. The names of these platforms, onboarded as sponsors, included 1xBet, Kheloyar, Khelraja, and SportsX9.

The illegal betting websites are notorious for their advertisement practices. The UK Gambling Commission, in 2019, even suspended 1xBet. This was because 1xBet had partnered with Pornhub, a pornographic site, to promote Pornhub Casino.

All the other, including 1xBet, have similar nature of advertisement images on their websites. What’s interesting is that these sites even promote betting on sports with minors. “Associated imagery used by the brands on their websites are not in keeping with the values of Cricket Ireland,” an official spokesman said as per Irish Times.

Betting brands are not our sponsors, says Cricket Ireland

Cricket Ireland in their statement said that the brands mentioned are not the sponsors of cricket team. They further elaborated that the brands are not associated with them in any way. However, the apex cricketing body thanked people who brought this to their attention.

“The distinction between sponsors and those merely entitled to signage within the stadium is an irrelevance, and all they might see is a sign at a cricket match. The brands used did not reflect well upon us – and once again we apologise unreservedly for any offence caused,” Cricket Ireland explained.

The matter of jersey sponsors and on-ground sponsors are a separate matter. But Cricket Ireland is currently working with Sport Ireland to get a greater control of the brands that are advertising on their venue. They are further working on defining clear values to be upheld in sports in Ireland.