Tony Bloom Confirms Betting Through Third-Party Accounts

The Guardian сообщает that billionaire and Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom confirmed in court documents that his analytics company, Starlizard Consulting, placed bets through third-party accounts on the operator Sportsbet.iо.

Involvement of George Cottrell and Ryan Dudfield

In February 2022, former employee Ryan Dudfield introduced George Cottrell, a former adviser to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, to Starlizard. Bets were placed through Cottrell’s accounts under an agreement splitting profits: 60% to Starlizard, 33% to Cottrell, and 7% to Dudfield.

From August to December 2022, Starlizard earned $3.7m. Dudfield cashed out his share in December 2022, receiving $182,000, and later obtained an additional $83,000 in July 2023 to waive future claims. Bloom’s collaboration with Cottrell continued until October 2025, generating another $2.4m in profits.

Dispute Over Profits and Accounts

Dudfield claims he is owed $17.5m from the syndicate’s profits, arguing that the agreement should cover all bets placed through Cottrell’s accounts. Bloom denies any obligation, stating the July 2023 settlement resolved Dudfield’s claims.

Use of Third-Party and “Exotic” Accounts

The court documents indicate that multiple third-party accounts were used for betting, but there was no standard practice or secrecy involved. Bloom’s defence notes that some accounts allegedly linked to Stake.com were never used by the syndicate.

Claims of Frontmen and Revenue

Dudfield alleges that accounts of prominent footballers and businessmen were used to place bets and claims the syndicate earns £600m annually. Bloom disputes the revenue claim as an exaggeration and does not comment on the frontmen allegations.

Legal Context and Settlements

Bloom’s defence highlights previous settlements with Dudfield, including a £405,000 payment in 2018, offset against Dudfield’s share of future winnings, and agreements made in 2022 after introducing Dudfield to Cottrell.

High-Stakes Betting and Syndicate Structure

The syndicate employed strategies typical of high-stakes betting, sometimes using so-called “whales” to place large bets. However, much of Bloom’s betting did not require third-party or exotic accounts, and identities were largely kept separate within Starlizard Consulting.

Comments from Involved Parties

Lawyers for Cottrell declined to comment publicly, while Dudfield and Bloom also refrained from discussing ongoing legal proceedings.