Tony Bloom, the billionaire owner of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, is at the centre of serious allegations linking him to an anonymous gambling syndicate that won $70m (£52m), with claims the bets included wagers on his own football clubs.
The US Legal Case and 'John Doe'
Bloom, a renowned professional gambler known as 'The Lizard', is claimed to be the mysterious 'John Doe' referenced in a US legal action. The case, brought by the online gambling firm Rollbit, sought to unmask the individual behind a lucrative winning streak allegedly facilitated by using a frontman to place bets.
When approached by the Guardian, Bloom declined to confirm or deny if he was the 'John Doe' in the court filing. However, he denied betting on his own teams or competitions involving them. A source close to him labelled the accusations as "entirely false".
FA Rules and Calls for Investigation
The allegations, if proven, would represent a clear breach of Football Association regulations. Bloom was granted a special exemption in 2014 allowing him to continue gambling, but strictly not on matches involving his clubs, which include Brighton and Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
The claims have prompted calls from MPs for an immediate FA inquiry. Clive Efford, the former shadow sports minister, stated: "The FA has to investigate these claims and publish their conclusion. Severe sanctions have been imposed on players for gambling on matches and owners are covered by the same rules."
Clive Betts, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on football, warned this could be "the tip of the iceberg", while former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith criticised the FA's "lax policy".
Separate UK Lawsuit and Syndicate Claims
These US allegations emerge alongside a separate High Court claim in England. That case alleges Bloom uses frontmen, including Nigel Farage's former aide George Cottrell, to place substantial bets for his Starlizard Betting Syndicate, which is claimed to make around £600m annually.
The Rollbit co-founder, known as Razer, publicly accused Bloom's syndicate of betting on his own teams via a frontman in a post on X on 14 November. Other sources have since made similar claims to the Guardian.
A source representing Bloom countered that his betting activities are audited annually by a leading accountancy firm to ensure compliance with FA and Belgian rules, and that these audits confirm no bets have been placed on his clubs.
The UK court claim was initiated by a former business partner who alleges Bloom owes him a share of gambling profits estimated at $250m. Bloom intends to file a defence to this claim in due course.
