Published on: January 8, 2025, 03:43h.
Last updated on: January 8, 2025, 03:43h.
The son of Tony Blair’s former chief spin doctor may face a criminal investigation in the UK connected to the collapse of his sports betting syndicate, according to a report in The Times of London.
Rory Campbell, the son of Alastair Campbell, who was the director of communications and chief strategist for the Blair government, owes over £5 million to investors in his failed soccer betting fund.
Campbell, aged 37, notified investors of the collapse of the syndicate about two weeks ago, as per sources cited in The Mail on Sunday.
According to investors, Campbell attributed this collapse to sportsbooks in Asia not honoring payouts to the syndicate.
Unpaid Bet Placer Since January
Contradicting Campbell’s claims, a different investor revealed on the Racing Room betting podcast on Monday that they believed the main bet placer for Campbell had not been paid since January. This revelation is significant as Campbell did not disclose any risk to the fund to investors until mid-July.
“Six months of investors asking for any kind of proof of Asian agents and bookmakers not paying,” shared Anthony Kaminskas, the founder of AK Bets on the podcast. “Not just a refusal to provide any … but talking to investors like they’re fools and [are] not entitled to ask where their money’s gone.”
It’s completely impossible to lose the whole lot this way,” he continued. “All syndicates, including his, use multiple bookies and agents to ensure the best price. They haven’t all gone rogue.
“[…] Some people assume the syndicate was loss-making. It wasn’t. It was winning seven of the last eight years … The only person who knows how these bets were placed is Rory.”
Knowledgeable Investors
Members of the podcast stressed that Campbell’s investors were not inexperienced individuals investing in a quick money-making scheme. They were all experienced gamblers and industry professionals, including a former executive from The Racing Post, a high-ranking official from the British Horseracing Authority, and a television racing presenter.
Amongst them was Alastair Campbell, who had invested £300,000 in his son’s fund.
Investors had anticipated a 4% return on their investments by the end of the last soccer season in May. When this return did not materialize, Campbell assured them that there was no shortfall in the fund and they would receive their full investment by the end of July.
The Times of London mentioned that negotiations to reach a settlement between the parties came to a standstill on Friday. An investor has filed a lawsuit in the London county court to recover £266,000, while others are threatening to report Campbell to the Serious Fraud Office if he does not account for the missing funds.