Gambling firm BK8 has been named as the official global betting partner for Huddersfield Town for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
As part of the partnership, the company’s logo is set to become visible across various assets of the Championship club, including match day perimeter board advertising and on non-match day training kits.
“We are absolutely delighted to have partnered with Huddersfield Town as their official global betting partner and we are thrilled that they have been able to see the positive changes we have made as a brand in recent months to make this possible,” explained Michael Gatt, BK8’s European managing director.
“In fact we do have plans to work with Huddersfield in some grassroots activation in coming months.”
Founded in 2014 and primarily operating in the Asian market, BK8 has stated that it is now wanting to target expansion into other territories.
Commenting on the partnership with BK8, Mark Devlin, Huddersfield Town’s chief executive, stated: “We have spent a lot of time speaking to BK8 in order to understand their values. We’ve come to know the central team at BK8, and how they want to operate as a company.
“BK8 have made a lot of positive moves in recent months and their work with former England footballer Kelly Smith and her charity bears testimony to their efforts. We’re confident that they have acted positively and will continue to contribute to grassroot football. Therefore, we are glad to enter into this partnership with BK8 which potentially could grow in the coming years.”
CEO of Outlast Sports, Salauddin Sinnakandu, who brokered the collaboration, added: “After the La Liga and Kelly Smith activations we put in place, this deal is very much the next phase of the brand’s strategy to engage in the football market in the UK. Being part of that community, specifically in Europe and Asia, will be the focus in the coming months.”
The partnership with Huddersfield follows BK8’s reentry into English football, after previously seeing its link-up with Norwich City terminated earlier this year after just three days.
The online gambling group was named a principal partner of the Premier League club, however, fan backlash began almost immediately due to provocative social media content.
BK8 did eventually re-enter into European football two months later after it unveiled its partnership with five clubs in Spain’s La Liga Santander, becoming the Asian betting partner of Valencia CF, Athletic Club, Villarreal CF, RCD Mallorca and Elche CF for the course of the 2021-22 La Liga season.
