Bet365 founder Denise Coates and her family have significantly climbed this year’s Sunday Times Rich List, highlighting their immense wealth derived from the
Bet365 founder Denise Coates and her family have significantly climbed this year’s Sunday Times Rich List, highlighting their immense wealth derived from the success of the online gambling operator. They feature prominently on the list alongside other notable entrepreneurs from the gambling sector, amidst recent reports speculating about a potential sale or strategic shift for Bet365’s future.
The 2025 edition of the Sunday Times Rich List, which ranks the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the UK by net wealth, saw Bet365 founder Denise Coates, along with her father Peter and brother John, place 16th on the list with a fortune of £9.45 billion (approximately $12.60 billion). This ranking represents a climb of four places from their 20th position in the 2024 list, returning to their position of 16th seen in both the 2022 and 2023 editions. Their wealth places them among the most affluent individuals in the UK, narrowly behind Anthony Bamford, founder of construction machinery company JCB, at 15th, and ahead of Carrie and François Perrodo, whose wealth is derived from oil.
The 2025 Sunday Times Rich List also includes several other entrepreneurs from the gambling sector, with some joining the Coates family in moving up the rankings. Brothers Ian and Richard Livingstone, who hold a stake in gaming technology provider Evolution, were the next inclusion from the sector behind the Bet365 founder, placing 34th with a fortune of £5.73 billion, down from 28th in 2024. Mark Scheinberg, the founder of PokerStars, climbed from 41st to 38th with a £5.08 billion fortune. Betfred founders, Fred and Peter Done, saw a significant rise, moving up to 57th from 76th with £2.92 billion. Other notable figures from the gambling sector featured on the list include Michael Tabor, who owns the BetVictor brand, placing 199th with £800 million. Ruth Parasol, founder of the PartyGaming online casino platform (now part of Entain), was not far behind in 203rd with £780 million. Tony Bloom, known for his professional poker career and founding the StarLizard betting consultancy, moved up from 233rd to 213th with £721 million. Will Roseff, who is also involved with Bet365, completed the gambling contingent featured on the list, placing 254th with a £579 million fortune.
The publication of this year’s Sunday Times Rich List coincides with continued reports speculating about the future of Bet365. Reports on May 1, 2025, suggested that Bet365 is considering a sale that could potentially result in a windfall of £9 billion for the Coates family. The report added, as covered by iGaming Times (originally The Guardian), that internal informal talks have reportedly taken place weighing various options for the company’s future, including a sale, an initial public offering (IPO), or a partial sale. Talks with US advisers and Wall Street banks over the last few weeks (late April/early May 2025) have also reportedly been conducted, as also covered by iGaming Times. Options reportedly discussed include selling part of the business to a private equity firm, which would allow the Coates family to retain a stake, or considering floating the company on the US stock exchange. Industry experts speaking to iGaming Times recently about a potential sale noted that the reported valuation of £9 billion seemed slim when compared to some listed peers like DraftKings.
Providing brief context on the origins of the company, Denise Coates founded the online gambling brand Bet365 in 2001. She reportedly borrowed £15 million against her family’s betting shop estate to launch the venture that would grow to become one of the world’s leading online gambling operators.
In conclusion, the Coates family’s significant ascent on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List highlights their immense wealth derived from the success of Bet365, placing them among the wealthiest individuals in the UK and the most prominent figures from the gambling sector on the list. These developments occur alongside ongoing reports of potential strategic evaluations for Bet365’s future, including possible sale discussions, underscoring a period of potential transition for the major online gambling operator amidst a landscape featuring other notable entrepreneurs from the industry.
