Denise Coates, founder and CEO of Bet365, has surged to 16th place on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, with her family’s fortune reaching an estimated £9.45 billion. This return to their 2022 and 2023 position reflects not only strong business performance but also renewed market interest as speculation grows about a potential sale or IPO of the global online betting powerhouse.
A Billionaire Built on Betting
Bet365’s story began in 2001 when Coates took a bold risk, borrowing £15 million against her family’s betting shop estate to launch an online sportsbook. Since then, she has transformed the Stoke-on-Trent-based operation into one of the most profitable online gambling companies in the world.
Today, Bet365 serves customers in over 150 countries, employs more than 7,000 staff, and continues to innovate in both sports betting and online casino verticals—all while remaining privately owned.
UK Gambling Tycoons Take Over the Rich List
Coates isn’t alone in her climb. Several of the UK’s most prominent gaming moguls have seen their net worths rise in 2025:
- Mark Scheinberg (PokerStars): £5.08B – ranked 38th
- Fred & Peter Done (Betfred): £2.92B – moved up to 57th
- Ian & Richard Livingstone (Evolution): £5.73B – now 34th
- Michael Tabor (BetVictor): £800M – ranked 199th
- Ruth Parasol (PartyGaming): £780M – placed 203rd
- Tony Bloom (StarLizard): £721M – ranked 213th
- Will Roseff (Bet365 co-founder): £579M – ranked 254th
The rankings highlight how the UK’s online betting industry continues to generate immense personal fortunes—even amid tightening regulation and mounting political pressure.
Is Bet365 for Sale?
The biggest question now surrounding Coates and Bet365 isn’t just about wealth, it’s about ownership.
According to The Guardian (May 2025), the Coates family has entered discussions with U.S. investment banks and private equity groups. Several strategic options are reportedly on the table, including:
- A full sale of Bet365
- A partial stake divestment to private investors
- A potential IPO on a U.S. stock exchange
Insiders believe Bet365 could attract a valuation of £9 billion or more, thanks to its robust margins, proprietary technology, and fiercely loyal user base. Such a move would echo similar listings by DraftKings and Flutter, further opening up the global betting market.
Philanthropy and Executive Pay
While Coates is frequently scrutinized for her executive compensation—she earned £158.7 million in salary and dividends last year—her charitable efforts also deserve attention. The Denise Coates Foundation received a £120 million donation from Bet365 in the most recent fiscal year, continuing its support of UK community and health initiatives.
What’s Next for Bet365?
With Denise Coates once again among Britain’s richest individuals and the industry ripe for consolidation, the future of Bet365 hangs in the balance. Whether the family opts for a sale, flotation, or keeps things in-house, one thing is certain: any shift in Bet365’s ownership structure will have ripple effects throughout the global iGaming ecosystem.
Note from BTCGOSU:
While Bet365 is undeniably one of the largest and most influential online sportsbooks in the world, BTCGOSU does not promote or partner with Bet365, as the platform does not support cryptocurrency payments. Our site is dedicated to reviewing and recommending crypto-friendly betting platforms that align with our readers’ interests in privacy, decentralization, and blockchain-based gaming.
If you’re looking for top-tier sportsbooks that accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies, we recommend checking out BC.GAME, Stake and Betfury, which are all trusted brands in the crypto betting space.
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