Ex-Tottenham Midfielder, Dele Alli Loses Nearly £150,000 in London poker Betting

Former England and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli has reportedly endured a significant financial setback off the pitch after losing close to £150,000 in a series of late-night poker games at a central London casino.

The 29-year-old, once regarded as one of England’s brightest football talents, is said to have been a regular presence at The Victoria Casino in London, where he reportedly took part in high-stakes poker sessions during the early hours of the morning. Reports suggest Alli lost around £25,000 per night, with cumulative losses running into six figures over a short period.

A poker veteran who spoke to Daily Mail Sport claimed Alli has earned the nickname “whale” among casino regulars—a term used to describe players perceived as inexperienced but willing to wager and lose large sums of money.

“We all look forward to Dele coming to the casino because snaring a whale is a serious player’s dream scenario,” the source said.

According to the source, Alli’s arrival often sparks a rush among seasoned players to join his table.

“As soon as he arrives, a message goes out that ‘The Dele is open for business,’ and there’s a rush to join his table. He’s been turning up almost every other day over the past two weeks, often playing for several hours and typically losing £25,000 each time.”

Another poker player described the situation as troubling, suggesting the footballer appeared withdrawn and unhappy during the sessions.

“It’s actually quite sad because he doesn’t really speak to anyone and doesn’t appear happy. He clearly isn’t short of money and doesn’t seem bothered by losing such amounts, which is great for us. Poker is a tough game—there’s no room for emotion. It’s all about strategy and winning as much as you can.”

Despite the reported losses, Dele Alli is believed to have an estimated net worth of around £20 million.