Betting company Betfred says it will stop bankrolling rugby league, ending its long-running role as the sport’s lead sponsor. Fred Done, the company’s owner, says the decision comes after nearly a decade of sponsorship and describes the move as upsetting.

The reports link the change to broader UK policy proposals in the Budget that target betting shops. Betfred also indicates it may reconsider other sponsorship commitments, including support for horse racing, depending on how the measures affect the betting industry. The outlets frame the announcement as a response to regulatory and financial pressures, rather than a change in sporting priorities.

While the coverage highlights Done’s personal reaction to ending rugby league support, it also stresses the conditional nature of any further sponsorship changes. Overall, the story centers on Betfred’s withdrawal from rugby league and the possibility of additional sponsorship review tied to Budget-driven betting shop restrictions.