Bet365 sports betting company faces potential sale, as the Coates family deliberates a multi-billion dollar deal.
British Billionaires Thinkin' 'Bout Dividin' Bet365's Billions
- Sports Betting Mogul Makes a Move?
- The Coates Clan Considers a Sell-Off or US IPO
- Approx. £9 Billion Valuation and Rich as Croesus
Billionaire Betting Bonanza?
Rumors are swirling that the Coates family, the British billionaire business tycoons behind the gaming giant Bet365, are kicking around the idea of a sell-off or Initial Public Offering (IPO) [1][2][3]. The potential deal could value the sports betting behemoth at a staggering £9 billion (around $12 billion) [3][5], making it one hell of a lucrative move.
What's up for grabs? The family is weighing both the possibility of a full-blown sell-off and a partial stake sale, followed by an eventual IPO [3][5]. No decisions have been made yet, but the process is reportedly brewing in the advanced stages.
Motives Aplenty
So why the sudden financial flirtation with Uncle Sam? Well, the buzz is that Denise Coates, CEO of Bet365 and queen of the heap, is eyeing both strategic and personal game-changers.
Denise, who possesses a cool 58% of the shares and could potentially scoop over £5 billion (around $6.6 billion) from the proposed deal, has been making some shrewd moves lately. In March 2025, she pulled Bet365 out of the ethically murky Chinese market and transferred ownership of Stoke City FC to her brother, John. These actions could be seen as laying the groundwork for a cozy arrangement with Yanks investors [3][4].
Bet365: The Gambling Giant with the Midas Touch
It all started in 2000 when Denise Coates set up shop in a portable office container in Stoke-on-Trent, UK. Two decades later, Bet365 exploded onto the world stage as one of the leading online betting providers [6]. With over 7,000 employees under its wing, the company boasts operations in over 20 jurisdictions, including, but not limited to Germany, Spain, Argentina, and 13 U.S. states. Bet365 has been a long-time sponsor of Stoke City FC and is now the official global partner of the UEFA Champions League [6].
Putting the Fish on the Line
Not only did these moves prepare Bet365 to court stateside investors, the withdrawal from the Chinese market was a strategic play to avoid foreign policy pitfalls during a potential U.S. IPO. That, plus an increased presence in regulated markets like the U.S.,Brazil, and Peru, indicate a focused push to penetrate the lucrative American market and create sustainable growth opportunities [4][5].
The Money Talks
Financially, Bet365 is in good health. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, the company reported a 9% increase in revenue to £3.72 billion (around $4.9 billion) and posted a pre-tax profit of £626.6 million (around $835 million), enough to wipe away a previous year's loss. An IPO could cement Bet365's place as the largest gambling company listing worldwide, paving the way for companies like Flutter and Entain [4].
However, an IPO would mean a significant increase in reporting requirements – quite a contrast to Bet365's previously low-key culture [7]. Alternatively, Bet365 could be primed for a spin-off, where individual business units are carved out and operate independently [2].
Now or Never?
With all this momentum, you'd think a sale is all but sealed. But think again. The Coates family, as sole owners, is under no pressure to capitalize now. Yet the burgeoning market maturity and stiff competition from U.S. titans like DraftKings hint that Bet365 may be stage-setting for its next phase under fresh management [7].
As Alun Bowden, analyst at EKG, said, "People have been telling me for years that the only company they'd like to invest in is Bet365. Although there's a certain industry consensus that the company's on a downward slope, it remains one of the best, if not the best, online sports betting companies in the world" [7].
And there's gossip that personal factors within the Coates family are also playing a role. As Denise Coates approaches her 60th birthday, some analysts suggest the time is ripe to pass the company's reins to new hands after two decades of rapid expansion [7].
[1] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/may/05/bet365-coates-family-considers-partial-sale-sports-betting-giant[2] Sky News: https://news.sky.com/story/bet365-audit-reportedly-raises-anti-money-laundering-concerns-12579370[3] Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/e157682d-4a82-44ed-b236-49a41e41d9f3[4] Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackallardyce/2025/05/06/bet365-considers-us-ipo-amid-talks-with-us-investment-banks/?sh=527cdc861463[5] Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/us-bet365-considers-ipo-valued-over-8-billion-sources-2025-05-05/[6] Bet365 Subsidiaries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bet365#Subsidiaries[7] Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/451d2973-2add-40b7-9d41-fef9c7f9c0c9
- The Coates family, with the enormous success of Bet365, a leading online betting provider, are contemplating a sell-off or Initial Public Offering (IPO) within the lucrative online casinos Germany market and beyond, potentially valuing the sports betting behemoth at a staggering £9 billion ($12 billion).
- Denise Coates, the CEO of Bet365 and the family's key stakeholder, is strategically positioning the company for a US market entry, following Bet365's departure from the Chinese market, and transferring ownership of Stoke City FC to her brother, John.
- With over $12 billion in potential valuation, an IPO could cement Bet365's position as the largest gambling company listing, opening the doors for investing in other global players such as Flutter and Entain.
- However, an IPO would require increased reporting requirements, a contrast to Bet365's previously low-key culture, and may entail spinning off individual business units to operate independently.
- Analysts suggest that Denise Coates, who stands to receive billions from the proposed deal, may be preparing to pass the reins of Bet365 to new management, potentially marking the beginning of its next phase.
