Published on: February 9, 2026, 06:18h.
Updated on: February 9, 2026, 06:18h.
- Late-night poker losses at London’s Victoria Casino raise new concerns
- Former England football star struggles to recapture pre-injury form
- Personal challenges and addiction issues hinder professional resurgence
Wayward English soccer sensation Dele Alli has reportedly suffered losses nearing £150K (approximately US$190K) during late-night poker games in London, according to The Daily Mail.
A source revealed to the publication that the former Tottenham and England star has been frequenting London’s Victoria Casino during the late hours, heading directly to the high-stakes tables and losing approximately £25K (US$32,000) each session.
According to the source, fellow players have begun messaging each other whenever he arrives, saying “the Dele is open for business.”
Despite an estimated net worth of between £15 million and £20 million (around US$19 million to $25 million), Alli, 29, is raising concerns with friends about his current gambling habits, especially as he navigates recent professional and personal tumult, as reported by The Mail.
Searching for a New Team
After his release from the Italian club Como over the summer, the once-promising figure in English football is on the lookout for a new team.
“It’s genuinely quite sad to see him because he hardly interacts with anyone and doesn’t seem particularly happy,” an unnamed player reportedly told The Mail.
“He has the money, and he doesn’t seem overly concerned about the losses, which makes it advantageous for us,” the source added cheerfully.
During his youth, Alli earned 37 caps for England between the ages of 19 and 23, but he hasn’t donned the national jersey in over five years.
Alli reached his peak at 20, but since then, injuries and off-the-field issues have caused his career to decline. While at Como, he made just one appearance, where he was sent off within ten minutes.
Challenging Background
In a revealing interview in 2023, Alli opened up about his difficult childhood, characterized by an alcoholic single mother, sexual abuse by a family friend, and subsequent foster care.
“By age seven, I was smoking, and by eight, I was dealing drugs. Someone told me that kids on bikes wouldn’t be stopped, so I would ride around with my football, hiding the drugs underneath,” he recounted to Gary Neville.
He also mentioned that his struggles with addiction to sleeping pills coincided with his decline as a footballer, leading to a rehabilitation stint as he sought to come to terms with his troubled past.
Alli is reportedly eager to reclaim his former glory before it’s too late. Let’s hope that his poker nights at “the Vic” serve to reignite his competitive spirit rather than lead to further downfalls.