Denise Coates (58) strengthens her position as the highest-paid CEO in the UK.
Denise Coates earned more than £260 million in the last financial year, despite a sharp slowdown in Bet365’s profits. The founder and CEO of the online betting giant continues to dominate the UK’s executive pay rankings at a time when the gambling industry is facing growing tax and regulatory pressure.
The Richest Woman in Britain
According to figures from the financial year ending March 30, Coates received a £104 million salary, alongside dividends of at least £156 million, thanks to her majority shareholding in the company.
This total represents an increase of roughly 65% year-on-year. Overall, over the past 15 years, Coates has earned more than £2.7 billion from Bet365, leading its transformation from a pioneering online gambling operator into a global digital betting leader and a benchmark among the top online casinos 2026.
The surge in compensation comes against an apparently contradictory backdrop. Bet365 reported pre-tax profits of £338.5 million, down more than 40% compared with the previous year, while revenues increased from £3.69 billion to £4.03 billion.
The group also tripled dividend payouts to the Coates family, reaching £313.6 million, a sign of a still-robust financial structure and a strong focus on shareholder remuneration.
Profits Under Pressure, Strategy in Transition
The decline in profits, amid rising costs, is driven by a clear strategic choice. Bet365 is accelerating its shift toward fully regulated markets, reducing exposure to jurisdictions considered “grey” or unsustainable in the long term.
The exit from the Chinese market—historically significant for the group—carried both direct and indirect costs but forms part of a strategy that Coates has described as focused on “regulated and sustainable revenue.”
In detail, during 2024–2025 the group recorded a total loss of £43 million, partly due to asset impairments and the sale of its stake in Stoke City Holdings.
Operating costs rose sharply, driven by investments to enter new markets and an internal restructuring effort valued at more than £59 million.
Despite this, the sports betting and gaming segment continued to grow in revenue terms, posting an overall 9% increase, with gaming revenues up 25%, supported by major technological upgrades to the platform.
From a Parking Lot to a Global Empire
At the same time, Bet365 strengthened its presence in regulated jurisdictions, securing licenses in Brazil, Peru, Serbia, and several U.S. states.
This strategy has already had significant tax implications. During the period reviewed, the group paid £481.5 million to the UK Treasury—an increase of more than 30% year-on-year—confirming its position as one of Britain’s largest corporate taxpayers.
However, regulatory scrutiny remains intense on the international front. In Australia, the financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC has launched an investigation into alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
Bet365 has commissioned an external audit, implemented all recommendations received, and is now awaiting the authority’s conclusions, although the outcome remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, market speculation continues regarding a potential full or partial sale of the group, which could value Bet365 at close to £9 billion.
The company has not officially commented on this possibility, but it fits within a broader and profound redefinition of its business model.
In this context, Denise Coates’ story remains emblematic.
Starting more than 20 years ago from a disused building in a parking lot in Stoke-on-Trent, after recognizing the potential of online gambling and persuading her family to go all-in on digital betting, Coates now leads a global empire.
While her record-breaking pay continues to spark controversy, she is also pursuing a strategy aimed at securing the group’s survival and growth in an industry that is becoming increasingly regulated.
