The Coates Family Considers £9B Bet365 Disposal in Line with Global Strategy Transformation

<p>The founders of Bet365, the <strong>Coates family</strong>, based in the UK, are reportedly contemplating a sale of the firm, which could be valued at as much as <strong>£9 billion</strong>. The <a href=”https://online.worldcasinodirectory.com/sports-betting”>internet betting</a> behemoth, led by <strong>CEO Denise Coates</strong>, has been in talks with Wall Street banks and US advisors about potentially divesting the company, either partially or in full. These discussions could potentially result in a stake sale, a spin-off, or even a future public listing in the U.S.</p>
<p><strong>The U.S. market emerges as the new frontier:</strong></p>
<p>According to multiple sources mentioned in <a href=”https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/01/family-owners-of-bet365-weigh-up-potential-9bn-sale-of-gambling-empire” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>The Guardian</a>, <strong>preliminary discussions</strong> have now entered the stage known as the <em>“beauty paradeâ€</em>, where banks are in competition to represent the firm and obtain the most favorable valuation. One potential option involves <strong>selling a stake to private equity</strong> currently, while maintaining family control until a probable <strong>initial public offering</strong> (IPO) in the future.</p>
<p>If the company were to sell at the estimated valuation, Denise Coates, who owns 58% of the UK-based online gambling enterprise, could personally gain <strong>over £5 billion</strong>. Bet365 has not commented on these speculated developments.</p>
<p>Originating from a portable cabin in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Bet365 has expanded to become one of the biggest online sports betting companies globally, operating in 13 U.S. states and licensed in more than a dozen jurisdictions, including Spain, Germany, and Argentina. Last year, the company launched operations in <a href=”https://news.worldcasinodirectory.com/bet365-kicks-off-in-tennessee-and-illinois-amid-march-madness-117618″>Illinois</a> and established a new U.S. headquarters in Denver, Colorado, with a plan to hire up to 1,000 employees.</p>
<p>This move aligns with the broader industry trend towards the American market, following the <a href=”https://news.worldcasinodirectory.com/supremes-paspa-unconstitutional-sports-betting-legal-in-u-s-55260″>2018 U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of a federal sports betting prohibition</strong></a>. <strong>Analyst Paul Leyland from Regulus Partners</strong> observed, <em>“A US sale would be attractive for all parties involved,†</em>citing investor interest and strategic alignment. He added, <em>“There is more investment capital pursuing gambling than there are investable gambling firms.â€</em></p>
<p><strong>Exiting China and streamlining legacy assets:</strong></p>
<p>In anticipation of a potential sale, Bet365 has been streamlining its international operations. In March, the company declared it would <strong>end services in China</strong>, in order to concentrate on <em>“core marketsâ€</em> and <strong>sustainable revenue streams</strong>. The company’s departure from China—a market where gambling is banned—has been seen by analysts as a move to enhance its appeal to American investors.</p>
<p>Also, the company transferred the ownership of the <strong>Stoke City Football Club</strong> to John Coates last August. Paul Leyland commented, <em>“Given the level of scrutiny that might be applied in the US, having exposure to China would be very challenging, and there’s no reason to have a football club attached, that’s a family legacy.â€</em></p>
<p><strong>Industry analyst Alun Bowden, from Eilers &amp; Krejcik Gaming</strong> (EKG), suggests that Bet365 might be looking to take advantage of favorable timing. <em>“Now seems like an opportune time to explore exit strategies, especially with Denise approaching her 60th birthday in two years,â€</em> he said. EKG values Bet365 at <strong>up to $12 billion</strong>, based on a pre-tax profit of £627 million on £3.7 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year.</p>
<p><strong>Racing and sports ties could face uncertainty:</strong></p>
<p>Any potential change in ownership could <strong>raise issues</strong> for <strong>British racing stakeholders</strong>. Bet365 is a significant supporter of UK and Irish racing, sponsoring major events such as the Bet365 Gold Cup, the Cambridgeshire, and the Fillies’ Mile. The company has also invested in <a href=”http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com/greyhounds.htm”>greyhound racing</a> and maintains a busy annual sponsorship schedule.</p>
<p><strong>Analyst Ivor Jones of Peel Hunt</strong> considered the potential investor interest, remarking, <em>“If this extraordinary business is seeking new investors, I would anticipate a line stretching halfway around Stoke.â€</em></p>
<p>The company had previously stated during its application for a <a href=”https://news.worldcasinodirectory.com/new-york-extends-downstate-casino-bid-deadline-to-june-2025-114045″>New York license</a> that it had <em>“no intentions of selling, merging, or taking the company public.â€</em> However, more recent strategic changes—like exiting China and transferring internal assets—indicate that circumstances may have changed.</p>