Australian Rules Football team Sydney Swans, of the Australian Football League, will be sponsored by Star City Casino after agreeing a shirt-sponsorship deal with the Pyrmont gambling palace.

It adds to a major trend that has seen the gambling sector emerge as a crucial source of sponsorship in the AFL, with around half of all clubs signing deals with companies in the industry.

The Swans, who play at either the 44,000-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground or the 80,000-capacity ANZ stadium, are the only AFL club based in New South Wales, and were the first club in the competition to be based outside of Victoria.

The casino has approximately 24,000 daily visitors, and is keen to increase that number to 30,000. It was given a US$2.7 million makeover in January.

Swans players Nick Smith, Paul Bevan, Ed Barlow and Marty Mattner launched the deal at Star City.