Sports betting is as old as sports itself, evolving through the ages and eventually becoming regulated during the 19th and 20th centuries, shaping the sports betting we know today. The greatest leap happened in the 00s, transitioning from traditional sportsbooks to online betting. Much of the credit goes to Denise Coates, who 2001 transformed the sports betting landscape by launching Bet365, which has become one of the leading betting platforms in the industry.
But the road to the top has its ups and downs. Denise made mistakes that cost her reputation; payout problems raised questions about fair play, and that’s why the leading affiliate site, thePOGG has Bet365 casino blacklisted. In this article, we will talk about how this brand started locally and gained global dominance.
About Bet365
Bet365’s history dates back to 1974, when the founder, Peter Coates, established the Provincial Races, a chain of betting shops in his hometown, Stoke-on-Trent. Twenty years later, he passed the reins to his daughter, Denise Coates. She took the idea and switched it up, creating the online sports betting platform called Bet365. The platform was launched in March 2001, and due to its vast selection of sports, including lesser-known and amateur competitions, Bet365 gained instant popularity.
In 2005, Denise sold the on-site betting points to Coral for around £40m, allowing her to pay out the bank loan for the initial funding of the online platform. In 2016, Bet365 moved to a state-of-the-art headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent and opened an additional office in Manchester, marking a significant milestone for the company.
Major Milestones
A small company with 12 employees does not become a global brand overnight, with 90 million customers and over 7,000 employees globally. Here is a timeline of the most prominent milestones for Bet365:
- In 2001, Bet365 launched its first sports website.
- Live streaming became available on their website in 2006.
- They launched a Bingo platform in 2008.
- 2010 was especially fruitful as they were awarded the “UK Operator of the Year” title and launched an optimized mobile website version.
- A mobile app for Bet365 was created in 2012.
- In 2022, Bet365 won the SBC Sportsbook Operator of the Year award for the third time.
The Bet365 Marketplace Today
Denise remains the majority shareholder with a 50.1% stake. Her father serves as chairman of the company and Stoke City Football Club, while her brother is the team’s executive director.
Bet365 offers a wide range of sports markets, including all major sports, and seldom featured ones such as badminton, beach volleyball, netball, surfing, swimming, and more. They also offer eSports, virtual sports, lottery, and special events like elections in some countries such as the UK and USA.
Controversies
Bet365 has experienced controversies and major court cases on its journey to fame and has not been immune to raising questions about fair play.
Bypassing Gambling Laws in China
In China, where gambling laws are strict, Bet365 has been connected to court cases involving four of its customers and two promoters of its website being imprisoned. Bet365 has refused to comment on the matter, but it is reported that the company keeps changing the domain and offers its services to Chinese players, thus staying ahead of the authorities.
Not Paying High Prices
One of the problems bettors face is not receiving high winnings, as there are rumors that Bet365 has backdoor algorithms to prevent winners from betting. This algorithm evaluates players and blocks those with a winning history from placing large wagers, ensuring that the company won’t have to pay large sums.
In 2016, Megan McCann placed a £25,000 stake on 12 horses and won £1 million, but Bet365 refused to pay out her winnings, claiming that her share was secured by a third party, violating the company’s terms and conditions. After three years of litigation, McCann’s legal team filed an official notice of discontinuance.
Advertisements in India
Despite strict laws on gambling ads in India, Bet365 continued to run surrogate advertising in the country. India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs notified the media, asking them to stop displaying Bet365 and other betting platform advertisements immediately. This prompted the company to leave the market and install a partner online bookie.
Wrapping Up
It’s possible to encounter errors and omissions when dealing with a market as large as Bet365’s and a vast number of customers. The crucial thing is to rectify them promptly. Nevertheless, Bet365 still reigns as the top choice for bettors worldwide. Its global dominance is a testament to the quality that players trust.
