The Coates family is investigating a potential sale of sports betting firm Bet365 for a vast sum of money.
Gambling Giant Bet365 Might Be Up for Grabs
Stoke-on-Trent-based sports betting operator Bet365 could be on the market.
A Potential Valuation of $12 Billion on the Table
According to recent reports, the Coates family, the billionaire family owning Bet365, is considering a full or partial sale or an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the US. Insiders have hinted at a potential valuation of approximately $12 billion (~€11 billion).
Talks with US investment banks and advisors about strategic moves such as an IPO on a US exchange or a partial sale to private equity investors have already taken place, according to The Guardian.
Though decisions have not yet been finalized, the Coates family is said to be in the advanced stages of this process. Additionally, options such as a spin-off of individual business units are reportedly on the table.
A Clean Slate and Growth
Personal and strategic reasons could be driving this potential sale. Denise Coates, who holds 58% of the shares and could stand to earn around $5 billion (~€4.6 billion) in the event of a sale, has recently made significant moves. In March 2025, she withdrew Bet365 from the legally sensitive Chinese market, and handed control of the family-owned football club Stoke City FC to her brother John.
Bet365: The Rise of a Sports Betting Giant
Starting out from an office container in the English small town of Stoke-on-Trent in 2000, Bet365 developed in just two decades to one of the largest online betting providers in the world. Led by Denise Coates, the company might soon be facing its next big step: a billion-dollar sale or IPO.
The key figures and facts at a glance:
- Founding: 2000 by Denise Coates in Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- Ownership: Denise Coates holds 58% of the shares, the remaining shares are mainly in the hands of other members of the Coates family
- Employees: Over 7,000 worldwide
- International Presence: Active in over 20 jurisdictions, including Germany, Spain, Argentina, and 13 US states
- Sponsoring: Long-standing sponsor of Stoke City FC and the official global partner of the UEFA Champions League since 2024
- Technological Strength: Pioneer in live betting (In-Play), now a central part of the offer
- Regulatory Issues: In April 2024, the UK Gambling Commission imposed a fine of £582,120 (around €648,000) on Bet365 for breaches of anti-money laundering rules
Steps such as Bet365's withdrawal from the Chinese market and increased presence in regulated markets like the US suggest that the company may want to avoid potential risks during an IPO in the US.
Furthermore, an IPO would make Bet365 the largest listing of a gambling company worldwide and could signal that online gambling has finally gone mainstream. If successful, it could serve as a new benchmark for valuing competitors like Flutter or Entain.
Though there is uncertainty regarding whether a sale will actually occur, the increasingly competitive pressure from US giants like DraftKings suggests that Bet365 may be embarking on its next growth phase under new leadership.
Industry analyst Alun Bowden of EKG said, "People have been telling me for years that the only company they would like to invest in is Bet365. Although there is a consensus in the industry that the company might be a fading star, it remains one of the best, if not the best, online sports betting companies in the world."
- What could potentially drive the Coates family's decision to sell or go public with Bet365, a sports betting giant worth approximately $12 billion, is a mix of personal and strategic reasons.
- Denise Coates, the majority shareholder, stands to earn around $5 billion if Bet365 goes through with a sale. Recently, she withdrew the company from the Chinese market and handed control of Stoke City FC to her brother John, possibly signaling a shift in the company's direction.
- If Bet365 does decide to proceed with a sale or IPO, it would become the largest listing of a gambling company worldwide, signifying that online gambling may have finally entered mainstream status. This move could also serve as a new benchmark for valuing competitors like Flutter or Entain.
