Paide Betmaster stays in first league: promotion requires €300K-400K

Paide Betmaster, Estonian basketball first league champions at the end of April, will not exercise its right to advance to the Estonia-Latvia basketball league. Club leader Janno Viilup explained that maintaining a competitive team at a higher level would require at least €300,000-400,000, but the current budget falls far short. The goal is to complete one more season in the first league and prepare for promotion in the 2027/2028 season.

Paide Betmaster, which won the Estonian basketball first league at the end of April, is forgoing this year's opportunity to enter the Estonia-Latvia basketball league and championship. The club was required to submit necessary documentation to the sports federation by Wednesday evening at the latest, but decided to remain at its current level.

The club's long-serving leader and assistant coach Janno Viilup justified the decision primarily on financial grounds. "We cannot tell our current sponsors to quadruple their support," he said. During the completed season, the club operated with a five-figure budget, but to field a competitive team at a higher level would require at least €300,000-400,000. The local municipality's contribution has also not grown enough to bridge the gap.

Plan for 2027/2028 promotion

The club's strategy is to play one more season in the first league and use that time to prepare for the next promotion attempt in the 2027/2028 season. Viilup stressed that rushing ahead makes no sense without guaranteed financial backing.

Currently, Paide has not yet signed a contract with title sponsor Betmaster for the new season, although negotiations are ongoing. All current players are willing to continue, but new agreements will not be finalized until the financial foundation is secured.

Organisation needs strengthening

Viilup considered the development of the organisation as the next important step. In his view, a club with higher ambitions must have two or three people for whom basketball is their main job, not a side activity. Only then is it realistic to aim for the Estonia-Latvia league level.