Troubled Soccer Star Dele Alli Linked to Heavy Poker Losses at London Casino
Posted on: February 9, 2026, 06:18h.
Last updated on: February 9, 2026, 06:18h.
- Late-night poker losses at London’s Victoria Casino raise fresh concerns
- Former England star struggles to revive career after injuries and setbacks
- Personal trauma and addiction issues shadow attempts at professional comeback
Wayward English soccer star Dele Alli has lost nearly £150K (US$190K) during late-night London poker sessions over the past few days, The Daily Mail reports.
A source told the outlet the ex-Tottenham and England maestro has been turning up at London’s Victoria Casino in the wee hours, heading straight upstairs to the high-stakes tables, and promptly losing about £25K (US$32,000) per session.
It’s gotten to the point where the pros are texting to say “the Dele is open for business” every time he shows, the source claimed.
With an estimated fortune of £15 to £20 million (US$19 million to $25 million), Alli, 29, can probably afford it, but the situation has “added to fears” about the player, who has in recent years struggled with professional and personal problems, according to The Mail.
In Search of a Team
After being let go by Italian club Como in the summer, the once-great-hope of English football is currently looking for a team.
“It’s actually quite sad because he never really speaks to anyone and doesn’t appear to be that happy,” one player allegedly told The Mail.
“We all know he’s not short of money, and he doesn’t seem that bothered about losing so much, which is great for us,” they added brightly.
From the ages of 19 to 23, the midfielder was capped 37 times for England but has not played for the national team in five and a half years.
Alli hit elite peak at 20 and it’s been a downhill trajectory since, as injuries and off-field struggles derailed his career. At Como, he played one game, coming on as a substitute. He was sent off within 10 minutes.
Traumatic Past
In 2023, Alli spoke in a candid interview about his troubled upbringing by an alcoholic single mother, his sexual abuse at the hands of a family friend, and later, foster care.
“At seven, I started smoking, eight I started dealing drugs. An older person told me that they wouldn’t stop a kid on a bike, so I rode around with my football, and then underneath I’d have the drugs – that was eight. Eleven, I was hung off a bridge by a guy from the next estate [project],” he told Gary Neville.
He also said his decline as a soccer player coincided with an addiction to sleeping pills, followed by a spell in rehab as he tried to confront his past.
Alli is reportedly determined to get his career back on track before it’s too late. Let’s just hope the poker sessions at “the Vic” are sharpening his competitive instincts rather than contributing to decline.
No comments yet