Advertising ban puts a spoke in Tony G.’s Lithuanian sportsbetting sponsorship


Wednesday August 31,2011 :  TONYBET SHIRT LOGO NIXED FOR EUROBASKET 2011
 
Advertising ban puts a spoke in Tony G.'s Lithuanian sportsbetting sponsorship wheel
 
TonyBet, a Lithuanian sportsbetting operation owned by professional poker player Tony G and chief sponsor of the Lithuanian basketball federation will not have its logo emblazoned on team shirts for EuroBasket 2011.
 
The company reportedly paid "a hefty amount" (apparently a sizeable chunk of the Euro 500 000 needed to purchase a wild-card entry for the FIBA World Championship held in Turkey), to become the team's official sponsor.
 
While Lithuanian gaming authorities have denied the use of TonyBet's logo on team shirts in the run up to EuroBasket 2011 due to an existing advertising ban of gambling activities in the country, they have compromised on allowing the sportsbetting firm to advertise on television during the Championship, of which the proposed adverts will either get an aye or nay from the gambling authorities this week according to The Vostok Report.