Tony Bloom, owner of English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, and George Cottrell, an associate of a well-known U.K. member of parliament, have been accused of operating a gambling syndicate worth hundreds of millions, according to court documents obtained by The Guardian.
Key Takeaways
- Bloom allegedly led a syndicate that was given access to accounts of big-money whales.
- Accounts were allegedly used to place large wagers, many on soccer games, since some big-money bettors are banned from gambling platforms.
- The claimant of a lawsuit is seeking a share of roughly $250 million in gambling profits.
Cottrell, a key aide to politician Nigel Farage, gave Bloom access to his accounts, which were used to operate a betting syndicate.
Bloom, a billionaire and the majority shareholder of EPL club Brighton, made a chunk of his fortune from gambling, starting with professional poker and later developing a sports betting and data analytics business called Starlizard.
A 19-page court document outlined how Bloom allegedly used frontmen to help operate the ring, known as Starlizard Betting Syndicate, “in a secretive manner” just north of Brighton in Canary Wharf, London.
Details were shared amid an ongoing dispute between Bloom and a former associate, Ryan Dudfield, whose lawyers are seeking a share of gambling profits worth about $250 million. They also claim Starlizard makes about £600 million ($800.5 million) annually in winnings from bets placed on the accounts of frontmen, often “whales,” or big-money bettors.
Cottrell had previously engaged in high-stakes betting, although court documents state he did not have a strong winning percentage. He consented in 2022 to having his account used to place large wagers at various betting platforms; more successful high-rollers are often handed limits or banned outright for eating into companies’ profits.
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How did the ring work?
Dudfield, who referred to himself as the “introducer,” connected Cottrell with Bloom, court documents say.
Cottrell allegedly agreed to receive 33% of all wins but did not have to cover any losses. Other individuals whose accounts were utilized received similar promises of “risk-free” betting.
Significant profits were made by Bloom and Starlizard by "(utilizing) online betting accounts held in the name of an individual called Mr. George Cottrell to place bets on sporting fixtures, predominantly football matches,” the complaint reads.
It adds, “Mr. Cottrell had given control of his betting accounts to Mr. Bloom and the Syndicate so that it was not necessary for bets to be sent to Mr. Cottrell for him to place.”
Bets were supposedly placed at Stake.com, an unlicensed, cryptocurrency-based offshore casino with slot-style games, sports betting odds, and other amenities.
Cottrell is also accused of attempting to field Dudfield’s clients for another offshore platform, tether.bet, which also lacks a U.K. gambling operator’s license.
Operating in the dark
Court documents also allege Starlizard Consulting, originally owned by Blue Lizard Consulting, of which Bloom is the majority shareholder, helped Bloom and his associates operate the private syndicate.
It’s unclear how much money was illegally won in total.
Dudfield claims he should receive $17.5 million based on a 7% profit-share agreement. He also said Cottrell and another one of Bloom’s associates continued operating the ring after they told him the syndicate had been shut down, which he believes entitles him to even more compensation.
