The Times newspaper has revealed its eagerly awaited annual list of taxpayers for 2025. The data reveals that the gambling industry tops the rankings, taking second and third place among the biggest tax payers in the UK.
Brothers Fred and Peter Done, owners of Betfred, and the Coates family, owners of Bet365, stood out as major contributors. They once again appeared among the top five on the list, reaffirming the financial impact of the sector in the country.
Impressive amounts paid in taxes by Bet365 and Betfred
Chris Hohn, founder of Children’s Investment Fund Management, was the only one to outperform the betting entrepreneurs. He paid a whopping £339.5 million (about US$423.15 million) in taxes to the British government.
The owners of Betfred contributed £273.4 million, and the Coates family paid £265 million. These numbers demonstrate the strength of the gaming sector, which generates significant revenue for the government.
bet365 maintained its stable position compared to last year, but the company saw a drop in the amount paid in taxes. By 2024, the Coates family had shelled out £375.9 million.
The Done brothers and their family moved up two positions on the list, significantly increasing the amount paid compared to last year. They jumped from £204.6 million in 2024 to £273.4 million in 2025.
There were no tax changes in the UK
The recent UK budget did not bring any changes to taxes applied to the betting sector. Still, companies continue to report mixed financial results.
bet365’s financial report for the 2024 financial year highlighted a considerable increase in profits, while the salary of Denise Coates, the company’s CEO, was reduced.
While Betfred released its 2023 annual report, which showed a 25.6% increase in revenue. However, operating profit suffered a significant drop of 98.7%.
