MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Coates graduated university with a first-class degree in econometrics.

Coates' achievements include the launch of the bet365 Foundation and the Denise Coates Foundation Building at The Donna Louise Hospice for Children & Young People; a Staffordshire-based charity supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

The following year, Coates was named one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK on BBC Radio 4.

Coates is unusual amongst high-net-worth individuals in taking the majority of her income as salary rather than dividends. In 2018 she was the highest paid woman in the world.

Coates’ bet365 also owns a majority stake in Stoke City Football Club.

The exec was the highest taxpayer in Britain from 2019-2022.

AWARDS

At the Global Gaming Awards London, bet365 Partners is a regular winner of the Affiliate Program of the year Award.

In January 2012, Coates was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the community and business. 

Also in 2012, the bet365 founder received an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University.

EMPLOYMENT

Prior to founding bet365, Coates worked in the cashiers department of Provincial Racing, a bookmaking firm owned by her family.

After leaving university, Coates continued to work at Provincial Racing as an accountant before becoming the Managing Director of the chain of shops in 1995.

Coates first trained as an accountant before taking over a number of her family's betting shops and then selling them to bookmaker Coral.

PRODUCTS LAUNCHED

Although the bet365 brand has launched several products since its inception, the bet365 Foundation was specifically started by Coates. In 2012, the foundation was created, providing front-line funding to various charities registered in the UK. In February 2016 it was renamed Denise Coates Foundation.

The Foundation has made contributions to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice for cancer sufferers and pledged $345,000 to St Joseph’s College in Trent Vale, to help children in Sierra Leone. 

In April 2020 Coates donated £10m through her foundation to University Hospitals of North Midlands to support staff fighting Coronavirus. In 2022 the charity also donated £1m to help families in Ukraine.