Early Life
John Fitzgerald Coates was born in January 1970, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. He is the son of Peter Coates, who established the Provincial Racing betting chain and served as the chairman of Stoke City Football Club. Coates studied law at the University of Bristol and began his career as a solicitor.
Rise to Success
In 2001, after the sale of some of his father's betting shops to Coral, Coates, along with his sister Denise, launched Bet365. The company was founded using the proceeds from the sale of their father's betting shops. The siblings have led Bet365 to become a global leader in online gambling, serving over 53 million customers across 200 countries, processing annual bets exceeding $85 billion. John Coates owns approximately 25% of the company.
Key Business Strategies
The success of Bet365 is attributed to several key strategies, including the early recognition of the potential of online gambling, which allowed the company to capitalize on the shift from traditional betting shops. Bet365 invested heavily in technological infrastructure and expanded its services to numerous international markets. New market launches across North America have also driven revenue growth.
Philanthropy
John Coates is also involved in philanthropic initiatives through the Denise Coates Foundation, which supports various educational, health, and community projects. The foundation has donated significant funds to charities in the UK and worldwide.
