Denise Coates, known as the gambling queen, has recently received a windfall of £260 million, bringing her total payouts over the last 15 years to £2.7 billion. As the head of Bet365, she solidified her position as one of the highest-paid executives in the UK and the top-earning woman with this latest boardroom bonus.
According to newly released accounts for her family’s gambling enterprise, Coates’ salary alone amounted to £104 million, a significant increase from £94.7 million in 2024. Bet365 Group also tripled the cash dividends to family shareholders, totaling £313.6 million last year, in which Coates, owning a majority stake in the business, received a substantial portion.
Although the £260 million windfall is slightly lower than her previous record of £469 million in 2021, it still surpasses the earnings of other prominent company executives in the UK. Notable figures like Eamonn O’Hare, Pascal Soriot of AstraZeneca, and Peter Dilnot of Melrose Industries earned significantly less in comparison.
The windfall will further enhance the Coates family’s wealth, recently estimated at £9.44 billion, making them the 16th richest family in Britain. Coates, who founded Bet365 in a modest setting in 2000, has seen tremendous success in the online gambling industry, attributing its growth to the internet’s accessibility and privacy for customers.
Additionally, the Coates family is recognized for their significant tax contributions, with the group’s total tax payment to the UK Exchequer amounting to £481.5 million, up from £364 million in 2024. The Denise Coates Foundation, a charitable entity associated with the family, donated £130 million last year to various institutions, including hospitals and healthcare facilities, to support critical equipment and services.
Bet365’s revenue increased by 9% to over £4 billion in the year ending March, although its pre-tax profit nearly halved to £348.7 million. The impact of increased online gambling taxes announced in the recent Budget is yet to be reflected in the accounts, highlighting ongoing efforts to address problem gambling and support social causes. Bet365 remains dedicated to providing a safe gambling environment and collaborates with regulators to promote responsible gambling practices.