Betting firms offered Premier League clubs double what alternative 'ethical' companies did for leading shirt sponsorship deals, Sportsmail can reveal.
The relationship between gambling and football was thrust into the spotlight last week following the Daily Mail's front page exclusive exposing the Football Association's streaming partnership with Bet365, who provided a live broadcast of 22 of the 32 FA Cup third-round ties.
But the huge financial incentives offered to top-flight clubs by betting firms make it very difficult for teams not to sign up.
One Premier League club, whose current shirt sponsorship deal is worth more than £7million per season, has said that the offer presented by the nearest non- betting competitor was worth half of their current contract with a gambling firm.