Owner of EPL Club Brighton Alleged to be Operating Covert Betting Syndicate

Tony Bloom, the proprietor of the English Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion, along with George Cottrell, an associate of a prominent UK politician, are facing allegations of managing a secretive gambling operation valued at hundreds of millions, according to recently released court filings.

Key Points

• Bloom is said to have led a syndicate with access to accounts of high-stakes gamblers, often referred to as whales.
• These accounts were allegedly used to place substantial wagers, including many on football matches, since certain high-rollers are barred from standard betting platforms.
• A lawsuit claims a share of around $250 million in gambling profits.
• Cottrell, closely linked to politician Nigel Farage, reportedly allowed Bloom to utilize his accounts to run the betting network.

Bloom, a billionaire and majority shareholder of Brighton, initially built his fortune in professional poker before creating Starlizard, a sports betting and data analytics enterprise. Court documents describe how Bloom allegedly employed intermediaries to run the Starlizard Betting Syndicate covertly from Canary Wharf, London, near Brighton.

The allegations surfaced amid a dispute with former associate Ryan Dudfield, who claims he is entitled to a portion of profits estimated at $250 million. The documents suggest Starlizard generates roughly 600 million ($800.5 million) in annual winnings using accounts of frontmen and high-stakes gamblers.

Court papers indicate that Cottrell, though previously involved in high-stakes betting with limited success, agreed in 2022 to let his accounts be used to place large bets. High-performing gamblers are often restricted or banned because their winnings can negatively affect bookmakers profits.

How the Syndicate Operated

Dudfield, identifying himself as the introducer, allegedly connected Cottrell to Bloom. Cottrell reportedly received 33% of winnings without bearing any losses, with similar arrangements for other participants. Bloom and Starlizard allegedly profited by using Cottrells accounts to place bets on sports events, primarily football, without requiring Cottrell to actively place each wager.

Wagers were said to be made on offshore, cryptocurrency-based platforms like Stake.com and tether.bet, neither of which holds a UK gambling license.

Behind the Scenes

Starlizard Consulting, formerly Blue Lizard Consulting and majority-owned by Bloom, is alleged to have helped manage the private betting network. The total amount won illegally is uncertain. Dudfield claims he is owed $17.5 million under a 7% profit-sharing arrangement and alleges that Blooms team continued operations after claiming the syndicate had ceased, potentially entitling him to additional compensation.

Author: Olivia Parker