Global online sportsbook Bet365 will cease taking bets from Chinese punters on Thursday (27 March). The UK firm will pursue a growth strategy in legal markets including the US and Brazil.
In a 19 March statement emailed to Chinese customers, Bet365 announced it will now focus on “core markets [and] regions that provide long-term sustainable revenue”.
Founded in 2001, the UK company has long occupied a grey area in China. Gambling in the People’s Republic is strictly prohibited with the exception of two special administrative regions (SARs): Macau and Hong Kong.
Even so, a 2024 Financial Times report called China a “cash machine” for the family business helmed by Denise Coates. Bet365 reportedly sought out unregulated markets as UK sports betting reached saturation.
By 2014, per Regulus Partners, China “was probably Bet365’s second largest market behind the UK”, although it kicked in less than 20% of revenue at the time.
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