Allegations have surfaced that billionaire Brighton & Hove Albion FC owner Tony Bloom bet on his own team, raising questions about the Football Association's handling of betting policies. According to a US court case, Bloom is allegedly the "John Doe" referred to in a legal filing, which claims he was an anonymous gambler behind $70m (£52m) in winnings – including bets on Brighton and other football teams.
Bloom, one of the world's most successful professional gamblers, known as "The Lizard," denies betting on his own teams or competitions involving them. A source close to him described the allegations as "entirely false." However, a co-founder of online gambling company Rollbit claimed that Bloom's syndicate bet on Brighton and other teams via a frontman, breaching FA rules.
MPs have called for an investigation into the allegations, with Labour MP Clive Efford questioning why Bloom was granted a "carve-out" in 2014 to allow him to continue betting without restrictions on his own team. The FA's lax policy concerning gambling money used in club running has been criticized by some, including Iain Duncan Smith.
Bloom faces a separate UK court claim that he uses frontmen to place substantial bets for a gambling syndicate he controls. George Cottrell, Nigel Farage's former aide and Reform UK insider, is alleged to be one of the individuals involved. Bloom's financial interest in Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium has also raised questions.
The US legal action seeks information on the "John Doe" identity, which is believed to be Bloom's syndicate. The dispute is ongoing, but a judge initially denied the application. A source close to Bloom said that his betting activities are audited annually by a leading accountancy firm to confirm compliance with FA policies.
If the allegations against Bloom prove true, it could lead to severe sanctions for breaching FA rules. The investigation into the claims has been welcomed by some, but others have criticized the FA's handling of the matter, calling for greater transparency and regulation.
Bloom, one of the world's most successful professional gamblers, known as "The Lizard," denies betting on his own teams or competitions involving them. A source close to him described the allegations as "entirely false." However, a co-founder of online gambling company Rollbit claimed that Bloom's syndicate bet on Brighton and other teams via a frontman, breaching FA rules.
MPs have called for an investigation into the allegations, with Labour MP Clive Efford questioning why Bloom was granted a "carve-out" in 2014 to allow him to continue betting without restrictions on his own team. The FA's lax policy concerning gambling money used in club running has been criticized by some, including Iain Duncan Smith.
Bloom faces a separate UK court claim that he uses frontmen to place substantial bets for a gambling syndicate he controls. George Cottrell, Nigel Farage's former aide and Reform UK insider, is alleged to be one of the individuals involved. Bloom's financial interest in Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium has also raised questions.
The US legal action seeks information on the "John Doe" identity, which is believed to be Bloom's syndicate. The dispute is ongoing, but a judge initially denied the application. A source close to Bloom said that his betting activities are audited annually by a leading accountancy firm to confirm compliance with FA policies.
If the allegations against Bloom prove true, it could lead to severe sanctions for breaching FA rules. The investigation into the claims has been welcomed by some, but others have criticized the FA's handling of the matter, calling for greater transparency and regulation.
I'm really concerned about this whole thing... if true, it's just shocking that someone in Bloom's position would risk getting caught like that. I mean, $70m is a huge amount of money, and to be betting on your own team? It's just not right 
. The fact that he's denying it, but the evidence seems pretty strong... it's gotta make you question the FA's handling of things too 
. I think more transparency is needed here, and maybe some stricter regulations to prevent this kind of thing from happening again 
. As someone who cares about sports and fair play, it's just really frustrating to see someone like Bloom potentially breaking the rules 
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! I mean, can you believe Tony Bloom, aka "The Lizard," is being accused of betting on his own team? It's like something out of a movie 
. I'm not buying it that he denies everything though - if there's smoke, there's fire 
. And what's up with the lack of transparency from the FA? They're supposed to be the ones keeping everyone in check, but it sounds like they're more interested in letting Bloom off the hook 
. The fact that he's got this "carve-out" deal that lets him bet on his own team without restrictions is just not right 
. Someone needs to shine a light on this and make sure the FA is doing their job 
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like, $70m is a lotta cash! and if it is true that he was betting on his own team, that's just shady 
i feel bad for the FA tho, they're already dealing with so much pressure from all sides. i think they should step up their game and get to the bottom of this investigation 
but at the same time, let's not forget that people have a right to make their own choices about how they spend their money 
. A £52m win is some serious dosh, and if there's even half a chance that he did bet on his own team, the FA needs to sort this out pronto 
. I'm all for transparency, especially when it comes to sports governance. It's not just about Bloom's reputation, it's about what might happen next if these allegations stick.
and the fact that fa policies are lax enough that they're not even really doing anything about it is wild 
. and can we talk about how much more scrutiny online gambling companies should come under? 
. If true, Bloom's in some serious trouble 
. FA gotta get its act together, can't have owners getting away with breaking rules just 'cause they're rich 
But seriously, if this is true, it's not exactly the most trustworthy thing to do, you know? 
Not me, that's for sure. And can we talk about how convenient it is to have an annual audit by a big accountancy firm just to confirm compliance? 
Sounds like a total cop-out to me. Anyway, I'm no expert, but it seems like the FA needs to get its act together and tighten up those betting policies before someone gets seriously sanctioned... or worse, loses everything! 
️. If a billionaire can just waltz around with these kinds of activities without consequences, it undermines the whole integrity of the sport 
. It's time to shine a light on this and make sure everything is above board 
. The whole thing reeks of a huge cover-up and corruption. I mean, who bets on their own team and gets away with it? 
. The fact that Bloom is denying everything while still having all these shady connections just makes me more skeptical. And what about the investigation into FA policies? If they can't even get their own house in order, how are we supposed to trust them to regulate betting? 
It's time for some serious transparency and accountability. The platform loyalist here thinks it's high time someone called out Tony Bloom for his questionable dealings 
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especially if it's true he's been hidin behind frontmen to cover his tracks #GamblerGate 
like, chill out & let the facts come out 1st #StayTheCourse 
. Still, if Bloom did indeed break the rules, he should get punished 
tony bloom is accused of betting on his own team 
idk how else to feel but worried 
️ seems like the fa isn't doing much to stop it