After 52 years of association with the Coral Cup, which began in 1974, Entain announced it would not renew its sponsorship of the race at the Cheltenham Festival. The operator revealed that the decision came after the UK tax increases were announced, which forced Entain to pull out of some sponsorships as part of its
After 52 years of association with the Coral Cup, which began in 1974, Entain announced it would not renew its sponsorship of the race at the Cheltenham Festival.
The operator revealed that the decision came after the UK tax increases were announced, which forced Entain to pull out of some sponsorships as part of its marketing investment strategy.
Simon Clare, Entain’s UK PR and sponsorship director, said:
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm Coral will not be renewing its long-standing sponsorship of the Coral Cup. Coral has proudly been the longest-running sponsor at the Cheltenham Festival since 1974, but the scale of the recent tax increase on betting operators means we must take difficult decisions to mitigate its impact. Ending our sponsorship after 52 years is incredibly regrettable but reflects the need to reassess where and how we invest under the new cost landscape. The Jockey Club remains a valued and long-standing partner, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration across the many major Coral and Ladbrokes sponsorships we continue to support.”
It’s believed that the move was aimed at showing that the tax increases have actual consequences, specifically for those who claimed that the measures would have no impact on the industry.