The International Cricket Council (ICC) has voted to allow national teams to partner with betting businesses for select matches, according to The Times. The ICC has altered its rules to allow betting sponsors during test matches, one-day international games, and bilateral series. However, betting sponsors will still be absent from ICC-organized events such as the World Cup, due to anti-corruption policies.

In the United Kingdom, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has refused to allow betting sponsors to return due to their anti-corruption policies, following previous match-fixing allegations. This comes amid a government review of the 2005 Gambling Act, which has focused on sponsorship arrangements and the exposure of gambling content to young people. The Premier League has announced that its teams will phase out betting sponsorship contracts beginning in 2026/27, while the ECB’s stance suggests that England’s sporting authorities are attempting to distance their sports from betting in the face of public and political pressure.

Meanwhile, the ECB is investigating England head coach Brendon McCullum for his affiliation with sports betting affiliate site 22BET. The ECB and New Zealand regulators have expressed concern over this, citing potential conflicts with anti-corruption policies and 22BET’s lack of registration in the country.

Outside of England and New Zealand, cricket and betting continue to be linked. For instance, Betway sponsors Cricket South Africa’s national teams and domestic competitions.

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