Published on: December 4, 2025, 11:38h.
Updated on: December 4, 2025, 11:38h.
- Lawsuit uncovers the operational details of Tony Bloom’s Starlizard syndicate.
- Court files outline covert exotic accounts managed through intermediaries.
- Claimant Ryan Dudfield asserts a 7% stake in profits linked to Cottrell.
A recent submission in the High Court of London this week has shed light on the intricate operations of StarLizard, the clandestine betting syndicate helmed by professional poker player Tony “The Lizard” Bloom, who is also the owner of the English Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion.
The filings relate to an ongoing civil lawsuit against Bloom initiated by former partner Ryan Dudfield, who alleges he is entitled to a portion of StarLizard’s earnings—specifically $17.5 million (around US$23 million).
StarLizard stands as one of the most profitable betting syndicates worldwide. The documents claim it employs affluent frontmen, often perceived as habitual losers, to place wagers, including individuals from the sports and business domains.
Given that sportsbooks frequently reject bets from successful players, leveraging wealthy losers serves as an effective facade for Bloom’s operations, and these betting accounts are deemed highly valuable, according to the court filings. Inside StarLizard, such accounts are classified as “secret exotic accounts” and are meticulously overseen from the syndicate’s offices in London’s Canary Wharf.
Cottrell as a Frontman
One reported frontman for StarLizard is George Cottrell, associated with Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK’s populist right-wing Reform Party, as noted in the documents.
Cottrell certainly fits the profile of the frontmen. He hails from an aristocratic lineage and is recognized for his high-stakes gambling, having lost $20 million in a single poker session.
Additionally, he has a criminal record, having served eight months in a US prison for wire fraud. In 2014, Cottrell marketed himself on the dark web as an offshore investment adviser capable of laundering money into and out of the US.
When approached by two FBI agents posing as drug traffickers, Cottrell agreed to meet them in Las Vegas to discuss potential arrangements.
Initially faced with 21 felony charges including conspiracy to launder money, wire fraud, blackmail, and extortion, he ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud as part of a plea agreement.
Distribution of Profits
Dudfield claims he is entitled to a 7% portion of the profits accrued through betting activities associated with George Cottrell’s accounts. According to the filing, the profit-sharing arrangement distributes 60% to the syndicate, 33% to Cottrell, and 7% to Dudfield.
The plaintiff asserts that the syndicate misrepresented the status of operations using those accounts, suggesting they had ceased when, in fact, substantial betting activity and winnings continued, to which he maintains he is contractually entitled a share, as outlined in the court records.
He asserts that profits from Cottrell’s accounts would have earned him payments approximating $17.5 million.
StarLizard’s total earnings are estimated to be around £600 million (around US$800 million) annually, a sum substantial enough to support Bloom’s acquisition of Brighton & Hove Albion in 2009, as well as his subsequent purchases of Belgian team Union Saint-Gilloise, Scotland’s Heart of Midlothian, and Australia’s Melbourne Victory.