Who Is ‘The Lizard’? Inside The Betting Syndicate Allegations Surrounding Brighton Owner Tony Bloom

‎Tony Bloom, the billionaire owner of Brighton & Hove Albion, is facing scrutiny over claims that he was an anonymous gambler behind $70m (£52m) in winnings.

‎The allegations suggest some of the bets were placed on teams he owns. Bloom has firmly denied ever betting on his own clubs.

‎The situation has raised fresh questions about gambling rules and transparency in football ownership.

‎Bloom, one of the world’s most successful professional gamblers, is claimed to be the “John Doe” referred to in a US legal case that tried to unmask who has benefited from the lucrative winning streak.

‎Bloom refused to reveal whether he was the “John Doe” named in an earlier court filing. He denied betting on his own teams or any competitions involving them, and a person close to him called the allegations “entirely false.

‎MPs, including former shadow sports minister Clive Efford, urged the Football Association (FA) to investigate the claims.

‎It was revealed this week that Bloom is also facing a separate UK court claim accusing him of using frontmen to place substantial bets for a gambling syndicate he allegedly controls.

‎The allegations include claims that he used George Cottrell, a former aide to Nigel Farage and a Reform UK insider. Meanwhile, the US court case, not previously connected to Bloom, makes similar assertions.

‎It centres on accusations that a gambling syndicate used a frontman to conceal its involvement in winning large sums of money.

‎Things you need to know about the Betting Syndicate

‎Bloom’s syndicate was publicly accused of placing bets on his own football teams by the co-founder of the online gambling company Rollbit, which brought the US legal action.

‎The syndicate’s co-founder, known as Razer, posted on X on 14 November alleging that Bloom’s group used a frontman to place bets on his own teams on Rollbit.

‎Since then, other sources have repeated the claims, suggesting the syndicate also bet on competitions involving Bloom’s clubs. Such activity would constitute a breach of FA rules. The US legal action aims to obtain information confirming that the “John Doe”, said on X to be Bloom’s syndicate, received winnings from bets placed by a frontman.

‎Although a judge initially denied the application, the dispute remains active.

‎Bloom is already under scrutiny because of the separate lawsuit in England, which alleged he was using frontmen to place substantial bets for a gambling syndicate he controlled. Frontmen include “footballers, sportsmen and businessmen”, as well as Cottrell, the UK court document alleges.

‎This syndicate bet “predominantly” on football, the UK document claims.

‎Bloom’s X post, along with other sources interviewed by the Guardian, goes further to allege that Bloom’s syndicate bets on his own teams, with his knowledge and involvement. Bloom refused to address questions about his role in the syndicate

‎In addition to Brighton, Bloom also has a financial stake in Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

‎A source close to Bloom denied he and his betting syndicate had placed bets on his football clubs and competitions involving them, and said his betting activities were audited by a leading accountancy firm annually.

‎This process aimed to “check and confirm that such bets have not taken place” and showed that Bloom had fully complied with the FA’s betting policies. The same audit procedure is reportedly followed in Belgium.

‎Bloom is among a small group of club owners who, in 2014, received a “carve-out” allowing them to gamble, but not on their own teams or the competitions in which those teams compete.

‎If the allegations are proven, they could constitute a breach of FA rules.

‎Efford, a Labour MP, questioned this controversial exemption and said the FA should investigate.

‎“No one in a position to influence the outcome of a match or possess inside information can bet on the competition they’re involved in,” he said.

‎“The FA has to investigate these claims and publish its conclusion. Severe sanctions have been imposed on players for gambling on matches, and owners are covered by the same rules, so this cannot be ignored.”

‎Clive Betts, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on football, said, “It demonstrates a potentially very serious problem and could just be the tip of the iceberg. It needs a thorough and comprehensive investigation from the FA and transparency around the regulations that govern this in the future.”

‎Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative Party, added, “The FA must be much more transparent about their lax policy concerning the use of gambling money in the running of their clubs.”

‎Bloom gambling group ‘The Lizard’

‎Bloom is regarded as one of the world’s most successful gamblers, and is known in the industry by the moniker of “The Lizard”.

‎Bloom’s gambling group, the Starlizard Betting Syndicate, is alleged to generate about £600 million annually, according to a UK court filing.

In England, the claim has been brought by a former business partner who asserts that Bloom owes him a share of gambling profits estimated at $250 million

‎A source close to Bloom says he intends to file a defence to the High Court claim in due course.