Denise Coates, the founder and co-CEO of British gambling giant Bet365, has once again climbed the wealth ladder in the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List. Together with her family, their total wealth reached £9.45 billion (approximately $12.6 billion), ranking 16th among the wealthiest families in the UK, up four places from last year.
The list annually ranks the top 1000 wealthiest individuals or families in the UK by net assets. The Coates family was ranked 20th in the 2024 list, and previously held the 16th spot in both 2022 and 2023. This return to their former position further solidifies their status in the UK's business and tech wealth circles.
Gambling tycoons continue to rise, industry leaders generally move up
Despite increasing public calls for regulation of the gambling industry, the wealth and influence of related entrepreneurs continue to climb. In addition to the Coates family, the 2025 list also features several key figures from the gambling and online gaming industry:
The Livingstone brothers (Ian and Richard Livingstone), who hold shares in online gambling technology company Evolution, ranked 34th with £5.73 billion, down six places from last year.
Mark Scheinberg, founder of PokerStars, rose from 41st to 38th place with assets of £5.08 billion.
Fred and Peter Done, founders of Betfred, jumped from 76th to 57th place with a fortune of £2.92 billion.
Additionally, some veteran gambling industry figures, although not in the top ranks, have also maintained their positions in the list with steady asset growth:
Michael Tabor, owner of BetVictor: Ranked 199th with a fortune of £800 million;
Ruth Parasol, co-founder of PartyGaming: Ranked 203rd with £780 million in wealth;
Tony Bloom, founder of gambling consultancy StarLizard: With a fortune of £721 million, ranked 213th;
Will Roseff, an early investor in Bet365: Ranked 254th with £579 million.
Resurgence of sale rumors, Bet365's future moves draw high market attention
As the Sunday Times Rich List was announced, Bet365 also became a hot topic in the industry due to its potential sale plans. In early May, several media outlets reported that the Coates family was considering selling the company, with an estimated valuation of up to £9 billion. Insiders revealed that Bet365 has recently informally consulted with several American advisory firms and Wall Street investment banks regarding options for sale, IPO, and partial equity transfer.
One possibility is to introduce private equity investors to realize partial asset monetization while retaining family control over the company. Another alternative path is to consider listing on the US stock exchange to further expand its influence in the international capital market.
Industry analysts point out that although Bet365 is a leader in the global gambling market, its valuation is still conservative compared to publicly traded competitors like DraftKings, thus it has some flexibility in capital operations.
From a small-town betting shop to a global giant, the Coates family's wealth saga continues
Denise Coates founded Bet365 in 2001, using her father's offline betting shop as collateral to secure a £15 million loan from the bank to create the online gambling platform. Today, Bet365 is not only one of the largest online gambling operators in the UK, but its operations have also expanded to Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The Coates family maintains a high level of control over the company, with Denise serving as co-CEO for a long time, known in the industry for her high salary and secretive style.
Despite controversies over Bet365's social impact, marketing policies, and ethical responsibilities, it is undeniable that the Coates family still firmly holds the power core of the global gambling industry. Their business empire continues to climb the wealth charts, symbolizing the gambling industry's place in the global capital market.
