bet365 has had a fantastic 2011 and become the largest gaming operator in the UK with revenues of £501 million.
bet365 was originally formed in 1974 and came online back in 1999. They’re based in Stoke on Trent and founded by Peter and Denise Coates. Since then, they have grown to be the United Kingdom’s 7th largest private company and employ over 1,700 people.
The success of their new in-play betting service has seen the total number of bets rise a massive 58% from the year before. bet365 also invested in new marketing campaigns which have paid off – the yearly turnover was £439 million.
Overall, they made a pre-tax profit of £91 million – this includes the £7.4 million loss the company suffered from their majority stake in Premier League club Stoke City (the Coates family own the club). The losses from the club are probably due to the purchases they made in the summer which saw them sign some high profile players.
Further to bet365’s success, the Coates family has taken out a £25 million dividend for the 3rd consecutive year. Denise Coates took pay and pension contributions of £4.5 million – not bad eh?
According to BBC News, Denise Coates was recognized in the New Year’s Honours List and has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is for her “services to the community and business”.
bet365 Casino is one of the best known online casinos in the UK (and in Europe) due to their excellent games, support and overall service. Their casino is powered by Playtech software and they offer over 400 games to choose from. Their slots offering is particularly good too with great games such as Gladiator, King Kong and the Marvel slots.
If you are new to bet365 Casino, you can get a 150% welcome bonus up to £150. Remember to use the bonus code BONUS100 when depositing.