Bet365 sports betting company could potentially be sold for billions, interests high with the Coates family.
Taking a Gander at Bet365: Sale or US IPO on the Horizon
The Coates Clan Eyeing a MoveEvaluation of Around 9 Billion GBP BrewingUS IPO Could Be Sports Betting's Clearest Signal Yet
Bet365's Monster Evaluation and US IPO in the Works?
Wanna hear a juicy rumor? The Coates fam, the billionaire clan behind the online gambling behemoth Bet365, is reportedly mulling over a full or partial sale or an IPO on a US exchange. Yep, you heard that right. The family-owned powerhouse is looking at a whopping 9 billion GBP evaluation [1][2]. No decision's been made yet, but the talks are serious, like a grade-A football match I tell ya.
Legal Cleanup and International Expansion
Some folks say the move's down to strategic decisions by Denise Coates, Bet365's CEO. The 57-year-old now holds around 58% of the shares and stands to earn a neato 5 billion GBP (around 6 billion EUR) in the event of a sale. She's made some tactical moves recently: dumping Bet365 outta China in March 2025, and handing over control of her bro John's football club, Stoke City FC. [1]
Bet365: From Container Office to World-renowned Sports Betting Giant
From an office container a mere two decades ago in good ol' Stoke-on-Trent, Bet365's transformed itself into one of the largest online betting providers worldwide under Denise Coates' firm guidance. 'Tis a classic rags-to-riches tale, innit? If this fella's clever enough to grow Bet365 this far, imagine what could happen next - a billion-dollar sale or IPO, perhaps?
Here's the skinny:
- Establishment: 2000 by Denise Coates in Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- Ownership: The Coates family owns the lion's share. Denise Coates alone holds 58%
- Employees: Overt 7,000 globally
- International Reach: The company's active in over 20 countries, including Deutschland, Espana, Argentina, and 13 US states
- Sponsorships: Lovingly supports Stoke City FC and since 2024 is UEFA Champions League's official global partner
- Technical Might: An innovator in live betting (In-Play), which is now a significant part of the offer
- Regulatory Hiccups: In April 2024, the UK Gambling Commission slapped Bet365 with a whopping 582,120 GBP fine for violating anti-money laundering policies[3]
Could these moves be readying Bet365 for a US investors' embrace? Exiting the troublesome Chinese market could help Bet365 avoid potential snags during a future American IPO. Besides, the company's recently set foot in regulated markets like the US, Brazil, and Peru.
Basking in Green and Hitting the Books
Financially, this bad boy's steady on its feet. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, Bet365 reported revenue of 3.72 billion GBP (around 4.36 billion EUR), constituting a 9% increase, and a pre-tax profit of 626.6 million GBP (around 735 million EUR). A US IPO would make Bet365 the biggest listing of a gambling company globally and could point to online gambling becoming the new norm. Market masters could even see it as a benchmark for valuing rivals like Flutter or Entain [1].
An IPO'd also mean significant disclosure obligations - quite a departure from Bet365's hush-hush culture in the past.
The Show Must Go On?
Is a sale in the cards? The Coates family, with their unmatched ownership, isn't under any stress to move, so they've got time to pick the best moment. However, increasing market maturity and fierce competition from US titans like DraftKings suggest Bet365's about to enter a new growth chapter under fresh management.
What do experts say? Analyst Alun Bowden at EKG tells The Guardian that folks have been hankering to invest in Bet365 for ages, and folks might reckon it to be a dimming star, but it's still the best, if not the best, online sports betting firm in the world [1]. Wanna hear another take? Industry guru Paul Leyland says Coates might think it best to allow Bet365 to chart new waters instead of letting it stagnate [4].
Fancy investing in Bet365? Keep your radars tuned; Denise Coates might be passing the baton soon, after two decades of relentless growth.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/05/coates-family-considers-deal-for-bet365-in-12bn-sale-to-tech-firms-and-private-equity[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-05/bet365-seen-in-talks-to-secure-us-12-billion-deal[3] https://www.gamblinginsider.com/regulation/4017/uk-gambling-commission-fines-bet365-582120-for-breaches-of-anti-money-laundering-provisions[4] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/29/coates-family-bets-big-us-exploring-deal-part-sale-bet365-usa/
What if the Coates family decides to change their lifestyle and adopt a more tech-centric approach, leveraging Bet365's global presence to tap into the booming digital market? The sports world might witness a new era of merging lifestyles with technology, as Bet365's potential US IPO could signify the integration of sports and technology like never before.
