Bet365 chief secures £260m payout despite 43% profit slump

Bet365 chief secures £260m payout despite 43% profit slump

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Denise Coates, the billionaire founder and chief executive of Bet365, secured a total remuneration package exceeding £260.8 million for the financial year ending in March.

This figure represents a 65% year-on-year increase from £150m, comprised of a £104m base salary and a significant share of dividends. Cash dividends issued to family shareholders tripled to £313.6m during the period, with Ms Coates entitled to at least 50% of this sum as the majority owner.

This substantial rise in executive compensation occurred against a backdrop of declining profitability. Bet365 reported a 43% contraction in pre-tax profits, falling to £338.5m. While top-line revenue demonstrated resilience, climbing from £3.69 billion to £4.03bn, the bottom line was impacted by costs associated with reshaping the company’s global footprint. These costs included expansion efforts into the US and South American markets, as well as a strategic withdrawal from China.

The omission of the China exit from the group’s accounts has fuelled market speculation regarding a potential sale of the business, with advisers reportedly exploring valuations of up to £9bn.

The reported windfall was finalised prior to the increased fiscal pressure introduced in the recent Autumn Budget. From April, the levy on remote sports betting will increase to 25%, and online gaming duties are set to rise to 40%. While competitors such as Flutter and Entain have projected costs in the hundreds of millions, Bet365 has yet to disclose the anticipated financial impact of these tax hikes.

The gambling giant remains a major contributor to the public purse, paying £481.5m to the UK Treasury during the fiscal year.

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