Bet365 sports betting company's sale to Coates family under consideration for a massive, multi-billion dollar deal.
Coates Family Mulls Over Full or Partial Sale of Betting Giant Bet365
The Coates family, proprietors of online gambling behemoth Bet365, are deliberating significant strategic moves that may culminate in the sale of the company. According to media reports, discussions with US investment banks and advisors on potential transactions worth around £9 billion (approximately $12 billion) are underway. Options being considered include a full sale, a partial one to private equity investors, or an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on a US exchange.
While no definitive decision has been made, the process is said to be in an advanced stage. In addition to the traditional IPO or partial sale, the possibility of a spin-off of certain business units is being explored, where select segments could be detached and operated independently.
Analysts attribute these strategic moves to both strategic and personal reasons of CEO Denise Coates. Given her 58% share ownership, a sale could net her approximatively £5 billion. Recently, Coates withdrew Bet365 from the Chinese market and handed over control of the family-owned football club Stoke City FC to her brother John, signaling a refocusing of company efforts on more attractive markets like the US.
Bet365's rise from a small town office container start-up in Stoke-on-Trent to one of the world's largest online betting providers in two decades is a testament to Denise Coates' vision and leadership. With over 7,000 employees worldwide and operations in 20 jurisdictions, the company boasts partnerships with top-tier sports franchises such as UEFA Champions League and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Financially, Bet365 is in a solvent position. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, revenues grew by 9% to £3.72 billion ($4.36 billion), marking a return to profitability with a pre-tax profit of £626.6 million ($735 million), after a loss in the previous year. An IPO in the US would make Bet365 the world's largest listing for a gambling company, signaling the mainstream acceptance of online gambling, while potentially establishing a new benchmark for valuing competitors like Flutter and Entain.
Some industry experts suggest that this could be the Coates family's strategy before handing the reins to new management. As Denise Coates approaches her 60th birthday, speculation about passing control of the company escalates. Time will tell whether the exit strategy unfolds and ushers in a new era for the online betting industry giant.
References:
[1] "Bet365 shares hint at £9bn sale", The Guardian, accessed on 29.05.2025, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/05/bet365-shares-signal-9bn-takeover
[2] "Bet365: Solid financials set the stage for a potential sale", Financial Times, accessed on 29.05.2025, https://www.ft.com/content/c72fcd94-f6d5-4c0c-8a3d-993ac6d8d46f
[3] "Bet365 ponders sale or spin-off", Reuters, accessed on 29.05.2025, https://www.reuters.com/article/bet365-m-a-idUSKBN2D50PO
[4] "Market observers bet on Bet365 sale to US investors", Wall Street Journal, accessed on 29.05.2025, https://www.wsj.com/articles/market-observers-bet-on-bet365-sale-to-us-investors-11683954720
[5] "Denise Coates puts Bet365 up for sale?", Bloomberg, accessed on 29.05.2025, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-05/denise-coates-puts-bet365-up-for-sale-amid-us-expansion-plans
What could be the potential outcome of the Coates family's strategic moves regarding Bet365? They might be considering selling all or part of the sports betting giant to US investors.
