Newcastle Jets may face a hefty fine if they promote their sponsor on their shirts in New Zealand this weekend. The Jets are sponsored by Australian betting agency CentreBet and the club was informed yesterday by New Zealand's Gambling Compliance Group that they will not be able to advertise their sponsor because it is an overseas gambling operator.

Under New Zealand's gaming act, it is an offence to do so and the Jets could face a $170,000 AUD ($200,000 NZ) fine if they contravene the law, which states, "No foreign betting agency can promote, induce or encourage citizens to gamble outside NZ."

Newcastle chief executive John Tsatsimas was not aware that this was the case.

"It came as a bit of a shock," he said.

"We are working with New Zealand government officials so we can come up with a suitable solution."