Denise Coates and her family, founders of Bet365, have risen to 16th place on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated fortune of £9.45 billion. The ranking marks a four-place climb from their 20th position in 2024, returning them to the same spot they held in 2022 and 2023.
The annual list ranks the 1,000 wealthiest individuals and families in the UK. Denise Coates, alongside her father Peter and brother John, sits just behind JCB founder Anthony Bamford. Following the Coates family are oil magnates Carrie and François Perrodo.
Gambling Sector Entrepreneurs Feature Prominently
Several other gambling industry figures also featured on the 2025 list:
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Ian and Richard Livingstone, investors in Evolution, placed 34th with £5.73bn, although they dropped from 28th in 2024.
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Mark Scheinberg, founder of PokerStars, moved up three places to 38th with £5.08bn.
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Fred and Peter Done, co-founders of Betfred, climbed from 76th to 57th with £2.92bn.
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Michael Tabor, owner of BetVictor, was listed at 199th with £800m.
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Ruth Parasol, who founded PartyGaming—now part of Entain—ranked 203rd with £780m.
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Tony Bloom, founder of StarLizard and a former professional poker player, rose to 213th from 233rd, with £721m.
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Will Roseff, also connected to Bet365, placed 254th with a personal fortune of £579m.
Speculation Mounts Over Bet365 Sale
The Rich List publication comes amid growing speculation about the future of Bet365. On 1 May, reports emerged suggesting Bet365 is exploring a potential sale or IPO, with a possible valuation of around £9bn. According to The Guardian, the Coates family has engaged in informal discussions with Wall Street banks and US-based advisers.
One scenario under review involves selling a minority stake to a private equity firm, allowing the Coates family to retain control. Another option is a potential flotation on a US stock exchange.