Watford's sponsorship deal with Sportsbet.io could be in jeopardy with reports suggesting Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to ban gambling companies from sponsoring football kits.

Reports in the Telegraph last night suggest the PM is "increasingly likely" to introduce the ban by the autumn, which would come prior to the end of the Hornets' three-year deal with the cryptocurrency betting company, which was signed ahead of the 2019/20 season.

The deal, believed to be worth around £20million to Watford, was the first Sportsbet.io had signed with a football club, before also sponsoring Southampton at the start of the current season.

Such a ban would leave the club in need of a new kit sponsorship deal and also potentially out of pocket, although the exact financial implications of the ban at this stage are somewhat unclear.

Picture: Sportsbet.io

Picture: Sportsbet.io

Betting company sponsorship is worth an estimated £110million to clubs in the Premier League and Championship currently, with Watford one of 12 sides in the second tier to be sponsored by a gambling firm.

The move towards banning comes with an extensive review into the sector due to end in March with reports suggesting there is determination from the government to bring about reform.

The review is being led by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, but the Prime Minister is also expected to play an important role.

The government have said they will be guided by the evidence on any decision they make, looking specifically at the impact such sponsorship and advertising has on gambling addiction.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harms, has said that she is believes a ban would be one of a number of "common-sense outcomes" of the review.

The Coalition Against Gambling Ads campaign welcomed the reports and described them as "really promising" via their social media channels.