From the poker tables to the boardrooms, with a Premier League club to his name and seeking Cheltenham glory, Tony Bloom isn’t your average horse owner.
While the 51-year-old tends to keep a low profile where possible, this football fan with a keen eye for a bet has turned his teenage hobby into a reported billion euro success story.
Bloom’s horse Poniros is one to watch at this year's Champion Hurdle race at Cheltenham.
At 5 years old, he already has a place in the history books at the festival, romping home at odds of 100-1 in the Triumph last year.
From his humble beginnings at the arcades and bookmakers of Brighton to making millions through the Asian gambling market, taking in the professional poker tables on the world stage and moving into the boardroom of his hometown club, Bloom's reputation of being a winner in an industry of chance seems unmatched.
The Lizard, a nickname Bloom picked up while on the poker circuit, has a number of high profile finishes on the world tour, including a fourth place in the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, a second place finish at the Poker Million XI event in London in 2010 and he was part of the winning British team at the Poker Nations Cup in 2006.
His talents got noticed in the early 90s after ditching a job as a trader to become a professional gambler, where he caught the eye of bookmaker Victor Chandler, who later went on to become BetVictor.
In the late 90s Chandler introduced Bloom to the Asian market and their handicap system, a system that would see the Lizard bank millions. Bloom then went out on his own setting up a number of online gambling sites during the 2000s, taking time out from professional gambling to play against the world's elite in poker.
Such was his talent at the game, people said he must have been cold-blooded to make such cool decisions, and hence the Lizard was born.
In 2006 the professional gambler set up Starlizard, and although mystery surrounds why he is not named as a director, many speculate that the consultancy agency operates mainly as a gambling advisory to his exclusive gambling syndicate, which was set up around the same time.
Britain’s greatest gambler, as he has been referred to in the past, is reported to use the Asian handicap system to place his bets and it's said he asks for a £2m stake from potential clients to use his services. Using the proprietary odds created by Starlizard, along with his connections, Bloom and his syndicate can make smart high stakes bets, mostly on football matches, across Asia.
Bloom manages to keep his business shrouded in mystery as all of his employees are made to sign strict nondisclosure agreements when they commence working with Starlizard. Some former employees, however, did speak anonymously to Business Insider, where they revealed how the firm operates.
It would seem that people who join the company get the standard market wage for the role they take on, but are incentivised to stay with Starlizard by being offered a share in the firm's winnings.
One former employee told the publication that after overcoming probation employees get the chance to share in the winnings of one of the most successful bettors in the world.
Payments are made twice a year, with employees benefiting to the tune of less than £100 and up to £500k every six months. The amount you receive depends on the number of "stars" you have, or the size of your stake.
Most of the staff who join the syndicate do so for free, with their percentage of the winnings looked on as a bonus. One former employee said: "You could quite easily be getting £10,000 every six months – who would turn that down?"
There is a catch, however, with employees expected to top up the pot if the firm loses money. This doesn't happen too often and with a six-month payout scheme, it's is rare that the staff have to dig into their own pockets.
One worker in the industry explained it: "They don’t beat the market all the time, just enough times."
With things going well for the businessman, Bloom bought a 75% stake in his local club Brighton & Hove Albion in 2009, bringing them back to the Premier League in 2016/17 for the first time in 34 years. Such was his ambition for the Seagulls, Bloom pumped £93m into their stadium along the way so they had the grounds suitable for an English top-flight return.
While much of the man's business is a mystery, it will be no surprise to racing fans to see him in the winner's circle once again.
Showing posts with label Cheltenham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheltenham. Show all posts
November 15, 2018
Football agent Will Salthouse accused of a lack of care after 'cashing in by introducing bookmaker to players'
A top football agent has been severely criticised by a gambling addiction charity for receiving payments from a leading bookmaker — in the form of free bets — after introducing them to his players at race meetings.
Will Salthouse, who has some major Premier League stars among his clients, considers himself one of the biggest deal-makers in the game.
He is said to have the ear of at least two prominent Premier League chairmen and owns an agency, Unique Sports Management, that boasts Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray on its stellar client list. Negotiating their deals can earn millions for agents like Salthouse.
But Salthouse received payments of £6,000 in 2015 and £4,000 in 2016 in free bets after inviting footballers into private boxes he hired at Cheltenham and enabling the bookmaker to introduce themselves to young footballers who might want to gamble.
At the Cheltenham Festival in 2016, a group of professional players in Salthouse’s box were banned by racecourse bosses after being caught urinating into empty pint glasses and tipping the contents over a balcony, an incident that brought shame on English football.
At a time when the worrying link between gambling and football is in the spotlight — only this week Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge was charged by the FA with misconduct for alleged breaches of betting rules — the revelation about the arrangement between the bookmaker and Salthouse has brought severe criticism.
The Sporting Chance Clinic, which was set up to support players with problems such as gambling addictions, described an agent’s willingness to receive financial reward from a bookie who was introduced to his clients as ‘appalling’. They have said it raised concerns about a ‘poor attitude to player care’.
There is also debate over whether Salthouse, who received the payments into his personal gambling account with the bookmaker, and claims they were in exchange for renting the hospitality boxes, should have declared the payments to HMRC.
Salthouse maintained that he was advised by an accountant there was no need and HMRC have declined to comment.
Sporting Chance chief executive Colin Bland said: ‘Firstly, there is no doubt that gambling is an issue among the playing population of football. Good research would show that a professional sportsperson is three times more likely to have a gambling problem than a member of the general population.
‘We do, as an organisation, have an issue with free bets. Free bets encourage people to gamble. It is a way of enticing people. It is a way of enticing what we would consider an already vulnerable population.
‘The dynamic of an agent being involved, it shows a lack of awareness to player care. We find that appalling. Seventy per cent of current players who have come to our service with an addictive disorder present with gambling problems. This is particularly poor behaviour (from the agent).’
When Salthouse reserved the Long Run Box, No 91, for March 10 at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, his PA requested on his behalf that the bookmaker make a contribution of £6,000 plus VAT. The bookmaker requested an invoice.
Invoices dating back to 2013 had also been sent to the bookmaker, while arrangements appear to have been made for at least one event at Chester races.
The bookmaker Salthouse had the arrangement with is a favourite among high-net-worth individuals, with the average stake reported to be £3,000.
Representatives of the exclusive betting firm requested the names and numbers of all Salthouse’s guests — one year it totalled around 50 — including footballers he represents. The players were given a free bet if they completed an online application form that would enable the bookmaker to set them up with an account.
The bookmaker also requested that Salthouse send a text to his guests informing them that the bookmaker would be in touch.
On the notorious day at Cheltenham in March 2016, footballers in Salthouse’s box — including Samir Carruthers and James Collins, who were playing for MK Dons and Northampton at the time — sparked a major controversy when they were seen urinating into glasses on the balcony of the private box.
Collins was then pictured pouring a glass of liquid over the balcony. The pair were banned from all courses in Britain by the British Horseracing Authority and Cheltenham barred USM from hosting the box they had booked for the following day, Ladies’ Day.
Salthouse indicated through his lawyers that everyone who attended the Cheltenham boxes was aware of the existence of the payments he received.
Responding to the allegations, Salthouse’s solicitors said: ‘Three years ago Will Salthouse hosted a box at the races for experienced players.
‘Those who chose to gamble wagered small sums in what was a social occasion. Others did not bet at all. He has done nothing wrong and would never try to encourage a player who does not bet to gamble. He has never profited from players’ losses.’
The PFA declined to comment.
He is said to have the ear of at least two prominent Premier League chairmen and owns an agency, Unique Sports Management, that boasts Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray on its stellar client list. Negotiating their deals can earn millions for agents like Salthouse.
But Salthouse received payments of £6,000 in 2015 and £4,000 in 2016 in free bets after inviting footballers into private boxes he hired at Cheltenham and enabling the bookmaker to introduce themselves to young footballers who might want to gamble.
At the Cheltenham Festival in 2016, a group of professional players in Salthouse’s box were banned by racecourse bosses after being caught urinating into empty pint glasses and tipping the contents over a balcony, an incident that brought shame on English football.
At a time when the worrying link between gambling and football is in the spotlight — only this week Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge was charged by the FA with misconduct for alleged breaches of betting rules — the revelation about the arrangement between the bookmaker and Salthouse has brought severe criticism.
The Sporting Chance Clinic, which was set up to support players with problems such as gambling addictions, described an agent’s willingness to receive financial reward from a bookie who was introduced to his clients as ‘appalling’. They have said it raised concerns about a ‘poor attitude to player care’.
There is also debate over whether Salthouse, who received the payments into his personal gambling account with the bookmaker, and claims they were in exchange for renting the hospitality boxes, should have declared the payments to HMRC.
Salthouse maintained that he was advised by an accountant there was no need and HMRC have declined to comment.
Sporting Chance chief executive Colin Bland said: ‘Firstly, there is no doubt that gambling is an issue among the playing population of football. Good research would show that a professional sportsperson is three times more likely to have a gambling problem than a member of the general population.
‘We do, as an organisation, have an issue with free bets. Free bets encourage people to gamble. It is a way of enticing people. It is a way of enticing what we would consider an already vulnerable population.
‘The dynamic of an agent being involved, it shows a lack of awareness to player care. We find that appalling. Seventy per cent of current players who have come to our service with an addictive disorder present with gambling problems. This is particularly poor behaviour (from the agent).’
When Salthouse reserved the Long Run Box, No 91, for March 10 at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, his PA requested on his behalf that the bookmaker make a contribution of £6,000 plus VAT. The bookmaker requested an invoice.
Invoices dating back to 2013 had also been sent to the bookmaker, while arrangements appear to have been made for at least one event at Chester races.
The bookmaker Salthouse had the arrangement with is a favourite among high-net-worth individuals, with the average stake reported to be £3,000.
Representatives of the exclusive betting firm requested the names and numbers of all Salthouse’s guests — one year it totalled around 50 — including footballers he represents. The players were given a free bet if they completed an online application form that would enable the bookmaker to set them up with an account.
The bookmaker also requested that Salthouse send a text to his guests informing them that the bookmaker would be in touch.
On the notorious day at Cheltenham in March 2016, footballers in Salthouse’s box — including Samir Carruthers and James Collins, who were playing for MK Dons and Northampton at the time — sparked a major controversy when they were seen urinating into glasses on the balcony of the private box.
Collins was then pictured pouring a glass of liquid over the balcony. The pair were banned from all courses in Britain by the British Horseracing Authority and Cheltenham barred USM from hosting the box they had booked for the following day, Ladies’ Day.
Salthouse indicated through his lawyers that everyone who attended the Cheltenham boxes was aware of the existence of the payments he received.
Responding to the allegations, Salthouse’s solicitors said: ‘Three years ago Will Salthouse hosted a box at the races for experienced players.
‘Those who chose to gamble wagered small sums in what was a social occasion. Others did not bet at all. He has done nothing wrong and would never try to encourage a player who does not bet to gamble. He has never profited from players’ losses.’
The PFA declined to comment.
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