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Court filings reviewed by The Guardian outline detailed allegations involving Tony Bloom and George Cottrell in connection with a large betting operation. The documents describe how accounts linked to Cottrell were used to place high-value wagers tied to a private syndicate associated with Bloom.
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The filings outline claims that Bloom, majority shareholder of Brighton and Hove Albion and founder of data firm Starlizard, oversaw a syndicate that relied on multiple betting accounts to place wagers at scale. The complaint describes an operation referred to as the Starlizard Betting Syndicate, run in a “secretive manner” in Canary Wharf.
Bloom built early wealth through poker before moving into structured betting models and data analytics. The documents claim that these systems played a part in the alleged private network.
George Cottrell, known from his work with Nigel Farage, appears repeatedly in the legal filings. According to the document, he gave Bloom access to his betting accounts in 2022. Those accounts were then used to place high-value bets on football and other sporting events.
Cottrell had engaged in high-stakes wagering in the past, although the filings note he did not maintain strong performance. He allegedly agreed to accept 33 percent of all wins without carrying responsibility for losses, a structure also offered to other account holders described as “risk-free” bettors.
The complaint reads:
“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.”
The allegations surfaced during a dispute between Bloom and former associate Ryan Dudfield. Dudfield and his legal team claim he connected Cottrell with Bloom and therefore should receive compensation tied to profits generated from these accounts. His lawyers point to roughly two hundred fifty million dollars in alleged earnings.
Dudfield referred to himself as an “introducer” in the legal documents, and he now seeks a share of proceeds under a stated agreement that would give him seven percent of profits.
He claims he should receive around seventeen and a half million dollars and argues that he is owed more because, according to his version, Cottrell and another associate continued running the alleged operation after he was told the syndicate had shut down.
Court materials reference wagers placed through Stake.com, a cryptocurrency-based offshore casino that offers sports betting and slot-style games. Another platform, tether.bet, is also mentioned. Both operate without a gambling license in the United Kingdom.
The complaint states that Bloom and Starlizard generated profits 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 filings also mention Starlizard Consulting, originally tied to Blue Lizard Consulting, a company where Bloom holds a major share. The material claims this structure contributed to the operation and supported how the alleged syndicate functioned behind the scenes.
Total amounts allegedly won remain unclear. Estimates in the documents suggest that Starlizard generated roughly six hundred million pounds per year in winnings, though this figure reflects the claims of involved parties rather than confirmed regulatory findings.