GAA Congress today voted to outlaw the sponsorship of GAA activity by bookmakers and betting companies with immediate effect.

The motion to ban “sponsorship by a betting company of any competition, team, playing gear or facility”was passed by a 93-7 per cent majority.

However the ban is not retrospective in that clubs may proceed with any agreements already in place with betting companies until existing contracts run out.

Connacht Council chairman Michael Rock, said that having introduced a rule that bans players and officials from betting on games in which they were involved, this was the logical next step.

He was backed up by former Galway hurler, Alan Kerins, who spoke on behalf of the Gaelic Players’ Association.

No county team is currently sponsored by bookmakers but some clubs and county boards have local arrangements with betting companies.