Nigel Farage Associate Faces Allegations of Involvement with Gambling Syndicate
Introduction to the Allegations
George Cottrell, a prominent figure within Reform UK, has come under scrutiny for alleged ties to a major gambling syndicate. Court documents suggest he acted as a frontman for this group.
Details of the Gambling Syndicate
The syndicate in question is reportedly linked to billionaire gambling entrepreneur Tony Bloom, nicknamed “The Lizard.” Bloom is known for expanding his gambling enterprises through intermediaries. The allegations indicate that Cottrell, a close ally of Nigel Farage, was one such intermediary.
Known as the Starlizard Betting Syndicate, this multi-million-pound operation placed bets using accounts managed by frontmen. These accounts, described in reports as “secret exotic accounts,” were often held by well-known athletes and business figures. The operations were conducted from discreet locations, including satellite offices in Canary Wharf.
The purpose of using frontmen was to enable successful gamblers to bypass betting restrictions typically imposed on them, by placing wagers through these proxy accounts.
Cottrell’s Role and Compensation
Despite not being an accomplished gambler himself, Cottrell was reportedly brought into the syndicate as a “whale” — a frontman who allowed multiple bets, primarily on soccer, to be made using his accounts. Many of these bets were reportedly placed on the cryptocurrency-focused betting platform Stake.com.
Additionally, allegations claim that Cottrell promoted another gambling site, Tether.bet, across England and Wales. Representatives for Cottrell have denied ownership or shareholder status in this platform.
In exchange for his involvement, Cottrell allegedly earned a 33% share of the profits generated through his accounts, while not bearing any responsibility for the losses incurred, making the role financially advantageous with limited risk.
Reports claim that Cottrell’s accounts are no longer active within the syndicate’s operations.
