Who’s Eyeing bet365? Gossip Swirls Around $12 Billion Sale Contenders
Gossip is heating up about who might snap up bet365, with private equity giants and US gambling titans rumored to be circling the $12 billion prize.
A High-Stakes Rumor Mill
The online gambling world’s buzzing after reports surfaced in May 2025 that bet365, valued at £9 billion ($12 billion USD), might be up for grabs.
The Guardian spilled the tea, saying the Coates family, who control the UK betting giant, held informal chats with Wall Street banks about a full or partial sale.
No one’s confirmed any bidders, but the rumor mill’s churning with names of heavy hitters who could handle a deal this big. Private equity firms and US gambling operators are the top contenders, each with deep pockets and strategic reasons to pounce.
Private equity giants like Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, and CVC Capital Partners are getting the most whispers. Apollo, managing over $500 billion in assets, has a solid track record in gaming, having bid on UK sportsbooks before.
Blackstone, with $900 billion under its belt, and CVC, with $100 billion and stakes in brands like Tipico, could easily finance a deal with cash and debt.
These firms see bet365’s global revenue streams and US market push as a goldmine for growth in regulated markets.
Gambling Giants in the Mix
On the operator side, US-based gambling companies are sparking chatter for their strategic fit. DraftKings, with a $16.64 billion market cap, is a hot name despite its focus on America.
Analysts say a deal would need “specific alignment,” but DraftKings could use equity-heavy offers to mesh with bet365’s US ambitions.
Caesars Entertainment, fresh off grabbing William Hill, and MGM Resorts International, tied to BetMGM, are also in the gossip. Both could leverage bet365’s tech to boost their global reach, especially in regulated states.
Caesars’ online arm lags behind FanDuel and DraftKings, so bet365’s platform could be a game-changer, though its BetMGM ties with MGM might muddy the waters.
“An MGM-bet365 match up would shake up the industry,” one analyst noted, hinting at a blockbuster combo if MGM bought out BetMGM’s Entain stake. Strategic investors, like sovereign wealth funds, could also jump in, but they’re less mentioned in the buzz.
Why the Hype?
The gossip’s fueled by bet365’s massive scale and the Coates family’s moves. Denise Coates, worth £7.5 billion, has kept bet365 private, but recent exits from markets like China suggest a pivot to regulated zones like the US and Brazil.
“It would be the largest gambling float ever and could redefine valuation benchmarks for peers like Flutter and Entain,” said James Norton of Shore Capital, if bet365 goes public or sells.
Private equity could offer the Coates family upfront cash and flexibility, while operators like DraftKings or MGM might push stock swaps to seal the deal. But UK rivals Entain and Flutter are unlikely players. Antitrust fears and market overlap make them bad fits.
Recommended