Bet365 profits soar to £406m in 2015

Bet365 continued to grow at an impressive rate during its 2015 financial year, posting a 15% rise in revenues to £1.47bn and a 27% rise in operating profits to £406m.

Accounts filed by the Stoke-headquartered operator this week and seen by eGaming Review, show a strong performance in sportsbook, poker and bingo, however casino figures were not detailed.

The rise in profits was not as dramatic as its 81% surge between 2013 and 2014 (£320.9m) despite the period including a football World Cup.

However amounts wagered on the bet365 sportsbook grew by a third during the year to £34bn, driven by an upsurge in in-play betting which accounted for 75% of amounts wagered.

Active sportsbook customers increased 43% to 4.1 million with the number of sign-ups and new depositors exceeded 4.4 million and 2.3 million respectively in the 12 months ended 29 March 2015.

Bet365’s mobile sportsbook also contributed to the growth with an increase in amounts wagered of 59% and revenue growth of 66%.

Poker revenues bucked the industry trend and were up 3% through “a focus on recreational players”, while mobile poker accounted for 47% of newly acquired players.

Meanwhile bingo revenues were up 44% following launch of new product in late 2014 which included new mini games and a revamped mobile platform.

The firm also reported that staff numbers grew by 9% to 2,926 and that its new office in Stoke, bringing all Stoke-based staff under one roof, will be ready next year.

The Premier League football club owned by bet365, Stoke City, posted revenues of £800,000, reversing a £5m loss in 2014.

Bet365’s owners took home a combined dividend of £75m, down from £95m last year.