The Coates clan is considering a titanic deal: the possible billionaire-worthy sale of the sports wagering firm, Bet365.
Article Rewrite:
Bet365's Potential Sale: A New Chapter in Online Gambling
- Sports Betting Titan Looking to Sell or Go Public
- Valuation of over £9 Billion and US IPO in the Works
- Dropping China, Focusing on Regulated Markets
Hey there, folks! This juicy bit of news concerns the Coates family, owners of betting behemoth Bet365. A sale or IPO on a US exchange could be in the cards, with an estimated valuation of around £9 billion (~€10.6 billion). Let's dive in!
Billion-Pound Gamble on the Table
According to the chatter, the British Coates clan might be looking to sell or partially offload their titan of online gambling, Bet365. These family folks already own the sprawling betting juggernaut you know and love.
The gang's already been gabbing with US investment bankers about potential strategies, such as an IPO on a US exchange or selling a piece to private equity investors. The British daily newspaper The Guardian [Link in English] shared the scoop. A valuation of roughly £9 billion is under discussion.
No decisions have been made yet, but the gears are turning. Alongside a classic IPO or partial sale, discussions about spinning off business units for independent operation are percolating.
Make America Bet Again
Market observers reckon both tactical and personal factors might be inspiring CEO Denise Coates's potential deal with US investors. The 57-year-old, who possesses 58% of the shares and could make a cool £5 billion (~€5.9 billion) if a sale goes down, has been demonstrating a cunning strategic assault.
In March 2025, she yanked Bet365 out of the legally dicey Chinese market and handed the reins of the family-run football club Stoke City FC to John, her brother.
Bet365: From Container to $12 Billion Dynasty
From a container office in the English town of Stoke-on-Trent, Bet365 ballooned in two decades to become one of the world's largest online betting providers. Spurred by Denise Coates, now one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in the UK, the company could soon stage its next epic move: a mind-blowing sale or IPO.
Keeping you in the loop:
- Founding: 2000 by Denise Coates in Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- Ownership: Denise Coates dangles 58% of the shares, with the remaining shares primarily camped in Coates family hands
- Workforce: Over 7,000 employees worldwide
- International Footprint: Active in over 20 jurisdictions, including Germany, Spain, Argentina, and 13 US states
- Patronage: Stoke City FC's long-term sponsor and, since 2024, UEFA Champions League's official global partner
- Technological Edge: Crusader in live betting, now integral to offerings
- Regulatory Woes: UK Gambling Commission slapped a £582,120 (~€683,000) fine on Bet365 in April 2024 for violating anti-money laundering rules
These wise moves may point towards preparing for a tiff with US investors. In particular, Bet365's abandoning the Chinese market suggests the company wishes to sidestep potential dangers linked to slippery foreign operations during a potential US IPO.
Moreover, Bet365 is stepping up its presence in rule-abiding, regulated markets like the US, Brazil, and Peru. The company's active in 13 US states and has been sealing new contracts, such as with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team in Missouri.
The Numbers Tell the Tale
Financially, Bet365 is in tip-top shape. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, the company reported an 9% revenue surge to £3.72 billion (~€4.36 billion) and a pre-tax profit of £626.6 million (~€735 million) – a turnaround from the losses in the previous year.
A US IPO would propel Bet365 into the limelight as the largest listing of a gambling company globally and could signal that online gambling has finally gone prime-time. Industry movers-and-shakers reckon that a successful Bet365 IPO could show how highly a substantial, profitable online betting company can be valued, potentially influencing the market value of counterparts like Flutter or Entain.
At the same time, an IPO would escalate the company's reporting requirements – a stark shift from Bet365's muted corporate culture.
What's Next?
Despite these tantalizing offers, it's unclear whether a sale will really go down. As sole owners, the Coates family is under no pressure to act and can take their sweet time to find the perfect moment. However, the maturing market and fierce competition, especially against US juggernauts like DraftKings, signify that Bet365 may usher in its next growth cycle under fresh guardians.
As analyst Alun Bowden from EKG put it, Bet365 has been a dream investment target for industry folks for years: "Even if there's some chatter about Bet365 being past its prime, it's still one of the best, if not the best, online sports betting companies globally."
Oh, and it's been whispered that personal considerations within the Coates family may also play a role. Denise Coates is inching towards her 60th birthday, and this could be the chance to hand over the reins to new keepers after two decades of relentless expansion. According to industry analyst Paul Leyland, Coates may've opted to breathe new life into the company instead of letting it stagnate in its current form.
Stay tuned for further updates on this thrilling tale of money, power, and the world of betting!
- If the Coates family decides to proceed with a sale or IPO of Bet365, they may need to consider working with US finance experts to navigate the US market, as a significant part of the valuation could come from US investors.
- The potential sale or IPO of Bet365 could signify a shift in the online gambling industry, as the company's move into regulated markets and technological advancements in investing could draw the interest of other business and technology players.
