Leicester City has backed its front-of-shirt gambling sponsor BC.Game despite a court declaring its parent brands bankrupt. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Pressure rises

After two losses sandwiching a draw, the last thing English Premier League franchise Leicester City needed while hovering dangerously in 15th place in the league was for its front-of-shirt sponsor BC.Game to add to its worries.

a court in Curaçao declared the parent brands of BC.Game bankrupt

But that is precisely what has happened this week. News has emerged that a court in Curaçao declared the parent brands of BC.Game bankrupt earlier this month, that includes both Blockdance BV and Small House BV. 

Underlining the gravity of the ruling, Leicester City issued an official statement to clear up the situation via its website and X:

According to The Mirror, the sanction on the Curaçao-headquartered firms “has prompted serious questions about the future of BC.Game.”

The seriousness comes from the judge ruling in favor of two claimants alleging BC.Game has not disbursed winnings of €1.3m ($1.36m) and €639,000 ($669,997). 

The bankruptcy ruling follows months of legal pressure brought about by international advocacy group Foundation for the Advocation of Victims of Online Gambling.

Foxes back sponsor

The EPL team, nicknamed the Foxes, has backed BC.Game.  

The franchise’s confidence stems from regular contact with its online gambling sponsor over the Curaçao issue. Leicester stated “BC.Game have provided the club with the strongest assurances that they are actively appealing this case.”

no issues with liquidity.” 

According to the EPL franchise, the court action in Curaçao is essentially administrative and not about BC.Game’s financial status. Leicester said the crypto gambling firm assured the club that it had “no issues with liquidity.” 

The Foxes statement ended by adding its sponsor remains “fully committed to meeting their ongoing contractual and financial obligations, including to the club, and that this case will not impact on BC.Game’s continuing international operations.”

Leicester’s two-year deal with BC.Game is reportedly worth £30m ($37m) and is of vital importance to the East Midland outfit’s survival in the EPL. In September, the Foxes narrowly escaped a points deduction for losing  £129.4m ($162m) over three seasons, an alleged violation of profit and sustainability regulations with Leicester’s losses exceeding the permitted limit by $24m ($30m).  

BC.Game hits back

Media reports cited a BC.Game statement confirming its appeal of the court judgement and its assertion there were “several inconsistencies in the evidence presented”. 

The Curacao firm also fired a shot at the attorney representing the claimants, arguing the case “may be a malicious lawsuit orchestrated by external forces aiming to exploit the legal system for unjust gain”.

Mirror Football shared confirmation from the British Gambling Commission that BC.Game does not have a UK gaming license “and is blocked to British consumers.”