Tony Bloom: From Poker Pro to Football Tycoon

Tony Bloom, known by his poker alias 'The Lizard,' has made a significant mark in the worlds of sports betting, poker, and football ownership. His career is a testament to the power of data-driven strategies and analytical thinking.

Early Career and Sports Betting Success

Tony Bloom's journey began with a degree in mathematics from the University of Manchester, followed by employment at Ernst & Young. His transition into sports betting came when he was hired by Victor Chandler in the late 1990s to establish operations in Thailand. This experience provided him with unique insights into Asian betting markets and their handicaps.

During the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Bloom's expertise shone as he encouraged Victor Chandler to side with France as the winner, against the favored Brazil. His data-driven approach proved correct, marking a major milestone in his career. Bloom went on to found Premier Bet in 2002, an online platform focusing on Asian handicaps, which was sold in 2005 for £1m. In 2006, he founded Starlizard, an analytics and football betting consultancy, which remains a significant source of income.

Football Ownership and Investments

Tony Bloom's involvement in football began in 2000 when he became a major investor and shareholder in Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. He took over as chairman and majority owner in 2009, strategically investing £93m in the club. Under his leadership, Brighton achieved significant success, including promotion to the Premier League in the 2016-17 season and qualifying for the UEFA Europe League in the 2022-23 season.

In 2018, Bloom acquired Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (USG), a second-division football club in Belgium. Under his guidance, USG was promoted to the Belgian First Division A for the 2020-21 season. However, to comply with UEFA's policies on multi-club ownership, Bloom decreased his ownership in USG, becoming a minority shareholder.

Poker Career Highlights

Tony Bloom's poker career, which started in 1994, has been equally impressive. He has earned a total of $3,892,611 from live tournaments. His largest prize came from the AU$100,000 + 500 No Limit Hold'em at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in 2011, where he took home AU$975,000 or $964,296. His second-largest prize was from the AU$100,000 + 500 No Limit Hold'em Challenge during the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in 2009, taking home AU$600,000, or $426,221. Additionally, Bloom won the $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha - Poker Masters #8 in Las Vegas in 2022, collecting $360,000.