Bet365’s Denise Coates jumps up Sunday Times Rich List
The Coates family ascends to 16th place, with the Bet365 founders amassing a remarkable fortune of £9.45 billion.
Denise Coates, along with her father Peter and brother John, has demonstrated significant financial growth in the latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List, moving up four places within the competitive landscape of the gambling industry.
This prestigious list categorizes the 1,000 wealthiest individuals and families in the UK by net worth. The Coates family now ranks 16th, with a staggering £9.45 billion ($12.60 billion) in wealth. Their rise from 20th place in 2024 illustrates their continued financial prowess, maintaining the same rank as in 2022 and 2023.
Narrowly outpacing the Coates family is Anthony Bamford, the successful founder of JCB, a construction machinery leader. Following the Bet365 founders are Carrie and François Perrodo, who have accumulated their wealth from oil investments.
Prominent Gambling Entrepreneurs Rising Through the Ranks
This year’s Sunday Times Rich List also spotlighted several other notable figures in the gaming sector, many of whom have seen substantial advancements in their rankings.
Brothers Ian and Richard Livingstone, holding interests in Evolution Gaming, jumped into the limelight with a joint fortune of £5.73 billion, placing them 34th—though this marks a decline from 28th in 2024.
Mark Scheinberg, the brains behind PokerStars, made notable progress, advancing from 41st to 38th with a personal wealth of £5.08 billion. Meanwhile, Betfred pioneers Fred and Peter Done climbed to the 57th spot, up from 76th with £2.92 billion.
Other noteworthy names include Michael Tabor, with a £800 million valuation from his BetVictor brand, ranking 199th, and Ruth Parasol, founder of PartyGaming, who stands just behind at 203rd with £780 million. Notably, PartyGaming now operates under the Entain umbrella.
Tony Bloom, who transitioned from a successful poker player to the founder of the StarLizard betting consultancy, also enjoyed a rise, moving from 233rd to 213th with £721 million. Will Roseff, associated with Bet365, rounded out the list of gambling moguls with a fortune of £579 million, positioning him at 254th.
Speculations on the Future of Bet365
The release of this year’s Rich List coincides with speculative reports about the future direction of Bet365.
As of May 1, sources indicated that discussions are underway regarding a potential sale that could yield £9 billion for the Coates family. The Guardian reported that internal dialogues have focused on options that include a full sale, an initial public offering (IPO), or a partial sale of the business.
Insider information suggests that Bet365 has engaged with U.S. advisers and Wall Street banks in recent weeks to explore these avenues. One hypothesis discussed is the possibility of selling a minority stake to a private equity firm, allowing the Coates family to maintain some ownership while accessing liquidity. Alternatively, there is consideration of taking the company public on U.S. exchanges.
Industry analysts, including insights gathered by iGB, have noted that the current valuation appears modest when compared to publicly listed competitors like DraftKings, indicating a potential opportunity for further growth or strategic maneuvers.
Bet365, initially founded by Denise Coates in 2001, began its journey with a £15 million investment against her family’s betting shop estate, illustrating a robust example of innovation and strategic risk-taking in the evolving digital gambling landscape.
