The World of High-Rolling Professional Gambling: A Secretive and Lucrative Industry
A recent court filing has shed light on the secretive world of high-rolling professional gambling, revealing a complex network of individuals and companies involved in a lucrative underground industry. At its core is Tony Bloom, a former professional poker player who owns Brighton and Hove Albion football club, and his associates, including George Cottrell, a close associate of Nigel Farage.
According to the filing, Cottrell effectively acted as a front for Bloom's major gambling syndicate by handing over control of betting accounts in his name. This arrangement allowed Bloom to reap profits estimated at around $250 million (£187 million), with Cottrell receiving a 33% share of any wins made using his account.
This case provides a glimpse into the parallel world of professional gambling, which operates outside the reach of UK regulators. The industry is characterized by its own jargon and codes of conduct, with successful punters often referred to as "shrewd" or "sharp." However, this expertise comes at a cost, as bookies are increasingly using tactics such as stake factoring to limit the potential earnings of skilled bettors.
When a customer opens an account, they may be given a stake factor that allows them to bet up to 100% of the normal maximum stake. However, if they win too often, their maximum stake is reduced or even set to zero. This has led to accusations that bookies are "chinning" skilled punters who have discovered ways to beat the odds.
To avoid being shut out by bookies, some punters turn to buying or renting third-party accounts owned by losing customers. These "beards" or "mules" can be bought for thousands of pounds and used to bet on sports events. In some cases, punters will even receive a laptop and instructions on what to bet on.
The industry is also plagued by unlicensed casinos and bookmakers operating overseas, which are easily accessible via virtual private networks (VPNs) and cryptocurrency. These firms often target high-rolling whales or VIPs, who are invited to gamble exclusively with them in exchange for not paying UK tax or undergoing anti-money laundering checks.
However, the unregulated market is not solely the domain of foreign actors. In recent months, there have been reports of licensed British bookmakers running offshore betting operations without proper licenses.
In contrast, legitimate betting syndicates offer a way to gamble outside the traditional industry. These syndicates allow members with enough money to buy in and gain access to hi-tech statistical modeling used to place wagers with specialist bookmakers around the world. Members share the winnings, making it a more attractive option for those who want to participate in the lucrative world of professional gambling.
As one punter noted, "In a world where the companies will shut you down for nothing … well, fuck 'em." The secretive world of high-rolling professional gambling is undoubtedly a complex and lucrative industry, but its allure comes at a cost.
A recent court filing has shed light on the secretive world of high-rolling professional gambling, revealing a complex network of individuals and companies involved in a lucrative underground industry. At its core is Tony Bloom, a former professional poker player who owns Brighton and Hove Albion football club, and his associates, including George Cottrell, a close associate of Nigel Farage.
According to the filing, Cottrell effectively acted as a front for Bloom's major gambling syndicate by handing over control of betting accounts in his name. This arrangement allowed Bloom to reap profits estimated at around $250 million (£187 million), with Cottrell receiving a 33% share of any wins made using his account.
This case provides a glimpse into the parallel world of professional gambling, which operates outside the reach of UK regulators. The industry is characterized by its own jargon and codes of conduct, with successful punters often referred to as "shrewd" or "sharp." However, this expertise comes at a cost, as bookies are increasingly using tactics such as stake factoring to limit the potential earnings of skilled bettors.
When a customer opens an account, they may be given a stake factor that allows them to bet up to 100% of the normal maximum stake. However, if they win too often, their maximum stake is reduced or even set to zero. This has led to accusations that bookies are "chinning" skilled punters who have discovered ways to beat the odds.
To avoid being shut out by bookies, some punters turn to buying or renting third-party accounts owned by losing customers. These "beards" or "mules" can be bought for thousands of pounds and used to bet on sports events. In some cases, punters will even receive a laptop and instructions on what to bet on.
The industry is also plagued by unlicensed casinos and bookmakers operating overseas, which are easily accessible via virtual private networks (VPNs) and cryptocurrency. These firms often target high-rolling whales or VIPs, who are invited to gamble exclusively with them in exchange for not paying UK tax or undergoing anti-money laundering checks.
However, the unregulated market is not solely the domain of foreign actors. In recent months, there have been reports of licensed British bookmakers running offshore betting operations without proper licenses.
In contrast, legitimate betting syndicates offer a way to gamble outside the traditional industry. These syndicates allow members with enough money to buy in and gain access to hi-tech statistical modeling used to place wagers with specialist bookmakers around the world. Members share the winnings, making it a more attractive option for those who want to participate in the lucrative world of professional gambling.
As one punter noted, "In a world where the companies will shut you down for nothing … well, fuck 'em." The secretive world of high-rolling professional gambling is undoubtedly a complex and lucrative industry, but its allure comes at a cost.
Like Tony Bloom just got rich off his mates in the UK, while the rest of us are still trying to make ends meet. But seriously, who needs that kind of stress when you're playing poker or sports betting anyway? 
Those guys must be having some serious fun... and by fun, I mean being hounded by bookies trying to take their money 
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. Meanwhile, licensed betting syndicates are like the cool cousin who invites you to their fancy party 
. Who wouldn't want in on that action? 
how do people not get caught with all these secret accounts and VPNs ?? i mean i guess if you're good enough you can stay under the radar for a bit , but like what about those who aren't so sharp ?? do they just get left behind or do bookies take care of them too 
. At least those guys are transparent about how they make their money and who's in charge 
. The lack of regulation is just asking for trouble 
. We need better oversight, more transparency, and some serious education about responsible betting habits 
. Until then, I'll stick to my fantasy football team, thanks 
#GambleResponsible #BookieBeAware
. But I think it's wild that some people actually buy and rent accounts from losing customers just to beat the system 
. On the other hand, legitimate betting syndicates seem like a great option for those who wanna play in the big leagues 
. Nevertheless, the allure of high-stakes betting remains undiminished, with many enthusiasts willing to take on the risks and uncertainties associated with participating in this secretive world of professional sports wagering 
This whole thing is just a mess. I mean, come on, $250 million unregulated? That's crazy talk! And Tony Bloom, the guy who owns a football club, running a major betting syndicate behind his back? It's like he thinks he's above the law or something 
. And don't even get me started on those "beards" and "mules" buying accounts from losing punters. It's like a whole different level of cheating 
. It's like they're one step ahead of everyone else. And on the flip side, there are legit betting syndicates that offer a way to gamble outside the system - cool, but isn't that just another way for people to get rich off other people? 
. I mean, someone like Tony Bloom owning a football club and being all connected to Nigel Farage? That's some shady stuff 
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. It's like they think they can just operate outside the law and make all their profits without anyone batting an eye 
. But at the end of the day, it's still a pretty sketchy business 
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. The whole industry is just too shady for my taste 
And it's not just about the money; these syndicates offer a way for people to access hi-tech statistical modeling and gain an edge over the bookies. That's pretty cool if you ask me 
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and these "beards" or "mules" being bought for thousands of pounds to bet on sports events? that's just crazy