Image source: Freepik
Few stories capture the imagination quite like that of Tony Bloom—a quiet genius who turned sports betting into a fortune, poker into a strategy, and football into a business empire. A lifetime Brighton fan, Bloom evolved from arcade dreamer to analytical powerhouse in betting, investing, and football club ownership.
Early Sparks: From Math Graduate to “The Lizard”
The story begins with a love for numbers. Bloom grew up in Brighton and later earned a mathematics degree from the University of Manchester. In the early 1990s, he left a job as a trader and dove into the world of professional gambling, quickly earning the poker-table nickname **“The Lizard”**, known for his steely composure and methodical play style.
Building the Betting Empire: Premierbet & Starlizard
Bloom’s transformation from gambler to mogul began in the late 1990s. He entered the world of Asian handicap betting, a niche where his analytical edge shone—then struck out on his own.
In 2002, he launched **Premierbet**, bringing Asian handicap markets to UK punters. Within a few years, he sold the business for around £1 million, pocketing his first major fortune.
In 2006, Bloom founded **Starlizard**, a high-stakes sports betting consultancy powered by statistical modelling and data analysis. Serving exclusive clients with multi-million-pound betting budgets, Starlizard is believed to generate around £100 million per year, making it the crown jewel of Bloom’s wealth-building ventures.
Timeline: The Road to Billionaire Status
| Year | Milestone |
| ——— | ———————————————————————————— |
| **1990s** | Starts career in trading and professional gambling |
| **2002** | Launches Premierbet; later sells it for \~£1M |
| **2006** | Establishes Starlizard, a sports betting consultancy |
| **2009** | Becomes majority owner and chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion |
| **2011** | Invests £93 million into Brighton’s AMEX Stadium |
| **2017** | Brighton earns promotion to the Premier League |
| **2020s** | Net worth crosses £1 billion, fuelled by betting and football success |
| **2023** | Brighton qualify for European competitions; Bloom receives MBE |
| **2025** | Net worth estimated at £1.3 billion; acquires stakes in Hearts and Melbourne Victory |
Poker, Property & Football: The Modern-Day Alchemist
Bloom has always diversified. His poker prowess earned him millions in winnings—bringing not just prize money but analytical sharpness to his business mindset.
Beyond betting and poker, he invested heavily in property and private equity portfolios, magnifying his wealth quietly but effectively.
And then there’s football. Since taking control of Brighton in 2009, Bloom injected hundreds of millions into infrastructure, recruitment, and smart transfers. His vision culminated in record Premier League profits, a sustainable recruitment model admired across football, and European qualification.
Bloom also expanded globally—investing in Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Australian club Melbourne Victory, and Scottish club Hearts—while backing data analytics firms to extend his edge beyond Brighton.
A Unique Alchemy
Bloom is no one-night success story. His rise weaves betting, poker, data analytics, football, and smart property investment into a rare alchemy. He’s built his empire quietly, methodically—matched only by his reputation as one of the sharpest minds in betting.
From fruit machines in Brighton’s arcades to a betting empire worth over a billion pounds, Tony Bloom’s journey is equal parts mathematical finesse, gambling daring, and business savvy. And he’s still betting on the future.
Photo: Freepik
