Observed Signal · Jul 28, 2026 · Regulation · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Favbet Sponsorship Visible Abroad but Blocked in Switzerland
Dinamo Zagreb’s kit showed no Favbet branding in a Swiss stadium because Swiss law prohibits advertising for games of chance not authorized in Switzerland. The same team wore sponsor-branded jerseys a week later in Croatia, where Favbet is a licensed provider; Swiss viewers therefore saw the advertising via broadcasts on SRF and Blue Sport. Gespa deputy director Patrik Eichenberger attributes the discrepancy to the country-of-origin principle, which allows passive retransmission of foreign content by broadcasters. Prevention experts at Sucht Schweiz criticized the inconsistent protection and flagged foreign-broadcast gambling ads as problematic. Favbet’s contract with Dinamo Zagreb has been in place since July 2024, and the company is not on Gespa’s blocking list partly because Swiss users cannot register without a Croatian personal ID.
Highlights a regulatory loophole (country-of-origin principle) that affects broadcasted sponsorship visibility and youth protection, relevant for broadcasters, advertisers and compliance teams.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Dinamo Zagreb’s sponsorship contract with Favbet has been in place since July 2024.
- Swiss law (Federal Act on Games of Chance) prohibits advertising for games of chance that are not authorized in Switzerland, which includes sports betting providers like Favbet.
- Dinamo Zagreb wore sponsor-free jerseys in a Swiss stadium, but wore jerseys with Favbet advertising in Croatia where Favbet is a state-licensed provider; Swiss broadcasters SRF and Blue Sport showed the Croatian match including the advertising.
- Patrik Eichenberger, deputy director of the inter-cantonal gambling regulator Gespa, said the country-of-origin principle allows passive retransmission of foreign content by a broadcaster.
- Sucht Schweiz criticized the differential treatment and called foreign gambling commercials seen in Switzerland problematic; Favbet is not on Gespa’s blocking list because Swiss users cannot register without a Croatian personal identification number.
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When Sponsorship Becomes Political
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