BET365 boss Denise Coates has kept her spot as one of the UK’s top-paid executives — after her pay deal soared to at least £280million over the past year.
The billionaire boss, who runs the betting giant alongside her brother John, received the bumper sum despite weaker profits at the firm.
Companies House accounts for the Stoke-based business show she received a salary of £104million for the year to March 2025.
The accounts also show it paid a £353.5million dividend to shareholders for the year — more than three times what it paid out a year earlier.
She will be eligible for at least half of this, or almost £177million, as majority shareholder of the business.
Ms Coates therefore received at least £280million for the year — up from £159million last year.
It takes her total pay and dividends to around £1.8billion in the past eight years.
The rise comes after the group reported stronger revenues, which rose 9 per cent to £4.04billion for the year, on the back of growth in both its sports and gaming operations.
However, the group also revealed pre-tax profits slid to £338.5million from £596.3million a year earlier.
It was reported in May that Ms Coates and her family were assessing a potential sale, which could value it at up to £9billion.
MOTHERCARE’S ‘REBUILD’
BABY products firm Mothercare said it hopes to rebuild its presence worldwide, despite posting further losses.
The London-listed firm reported pre-tax losses of £1.4million for six months to September 27, after losses of £1.8million a year ago.
Sales by franchise partners fell 25 per cent to £90.7million following store closures in the Middle East and underlying earnings halved to £800,000.
But chairman Clive Whiley said the firm “stabilised” after moves to downsize and cut debts.
He said: “Our focus is to rebuild our scale in the UK and globally.”
TURKEY ‘TRICK’
SHOPPERS are being warned they could eat foreign turkeys at Christmas, as shops may be “duping” families with sneaky labels.
Supermarkets are bringing in EU birds after a bird flu crisis hit British farms. MPs and campaigners claim “Support British Farmers” signs sit next to imported meat.
MP for South West Norfolk Terry Jermy said: “Confusing labels are making it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions.”
PETS TO WORK
PETS AT HOME has ended its three-month search for a chief exec, with ex-Waitrose MD James Bailey set to join in March.
Lyssa McGowan quit in September amid profit warnings and sliding sales.
Half-year results in November revealed profits tumbled by more than a third, with underlying earnings down 84 per cent.
Chairman Ian Burke warned last month that “urgent” measures were needed.
