Ludovic “Ludo” Bagman was a celebrated Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps Quidditch team and the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry of Magic during the 1990s. While outwardly cheerful and charismatic, Bagman was defined by a severe gambling addiction that led to financial ruin and unethical behavior. He played a significant role as a judge and organizer during the 1994-1995 Triwizard Tournament, where his attempts to manipulate the outcome to settle his debts with Goblins became a key subplot.
In his youth, Ludo Bagman achieved considerable fame as a highly skilled Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps. His talent on the Quidditch pitch earned him a reputation as arguably the best Beater the team ever had. His success extended to the international level, playing for the England National Quidditch team. During the First Wizarding War, Bagman was accused of passing information to the Death Eater Augustus Rookwood, who was a friend of his father. Bagman was put on trial before the Wizengamot. He testified that he had no idea Rookwood was working for Lord Voldemort and believed he was merely helping a contact within the Ministry of Magic. Due to his immense popularity as a Quidditch star and his convincing, albeit naive, defense, he was acquitted of all charges by a majority vote.
After retiring from Quidditch, Bagman secured the position of Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. In this capacity, he helped organize the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, where he also served as an enthusiastic commentator. It was here that his gambling problem became evident; he made a bet with Fred and George Weasley that Ireland would win the match but that Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum would catch the Golden Snitch. When the twins won, Bagman paid them in Leprechaun Gold, which vanished hours later. Bagman's financial troubles escalated as he also lost a major bet with a group of Goblins. To pay them back, he wagered that Harry Potter would win the Triwizard Tournament. This conflict of interest heavily influenced his actions as a judge. Throughout the tournament, he offered Harry assistance and awarded him suspiciously high scores, notably giving him a perfect score of ten for summoning his Firebolt in the First Task. He consistently downplayed serious events, such as the disappearance of his colleague Barty Crouch, Sr., attributing it to overwork. Following the tragic conclusion of the Third Task, Ludo Bagman did not pay Fred and George Weasley their winnings. Instead, he fled immediately to escape the furious Goblins to whom he owed a great deal of gold. His whereabouts after fleeing his creditors remain unknown.
Ludo Bagman is described as a large, tall wizard with the robust build of a former athlete who had since let himself go. He had short blond hair, prominent round blue eyes, a rosy complexion, and a somewhat squashed-looking nose. He retained a boyish air despite being middle-aged. He was known for his flamboyant dress sense, often wearing his old black-and-yellow striped Wimbourne Wasps Quidditch robes. On the surface, Bagman was jovial, charming, and perpetually enthusiastic. However, this concealed a deeply irresponsible and reckless nature. His personality was fundamentally childish; he avoided responsibility and failed to grasp the severity of dangerous situations. His gambling addiction made him dishonest and selfish, as demonstrated when he cheated the Weasley twins and used Harry's potential victory in a life-threatening tournament as a means to solve his personal financial crisis.