Every year the United Kingdom government releases the New Year’s Honors List recognizing the achievements and services of extraordinary people across the country. This year one of the names on that list will be familiar to online casino gamblers. Denise Coates, the dynamic founder and chief executive of the leading UK online gambling group Bet365 is among those named in the 2012 Queen’s New Year Honors list. Coates will receive a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) accolade for services to the community and business.

Denise is the daughter of Stoke City FC chairman and veteran betting man Peter Coates. She founded Bet365 in 2000 in Stoke-on-Trent with minimal staff in a trailer in a parking lot. The online gambling operator now employs more than 1,700 people and is regarded as one of the premier, multi-million pound sterling companies in the industry. The company offers wagers in 17 different languages to over 6 million customers. The latest results showed profits from online and mobile betting and gaming operations in Stoke and Gibraltar of £93.7 million on turnover of £439 million. Bet365 is also one of the biggest advertisers in the UK online gambling industry. The dividend payouts in the last three years amount to £37.5 million. Denise Coates owns just over half the shares in the privately held Bet365. Coates has not forgotten the community of her origin. Most of the Bet365 employees are Stoke residents. The online gambling operator also provides the financial backing for Stoke City FC, the oldest club in the Premier League.

Upon being informed of the recognition, Coates said, “It’s an incredible honor to receive this award. It would not have been possible without the fantastic support and commitment of everybody at Bet365.” Peter Coates, whose former land-based betting shop chain provided the bulk of the capital for launching Bet365, said, “The family was all delighted and all proud of her. She has done an absolutely amazing job for Bet365, building it up from scratch. And obviously the money the football club gets comes through the success of Bet365, so she has played a key role in the success of the football club.” Stoke City manager Tony Pulis voiced similar sentiments. He said that everyone associated with Stoke City was indebted to Denise and was delighted at this fully deserved honor.

Calvin Ayre put this honor in global perspective. He said, “What a difference to the way she would be treated in the US.” Bet365 offered online gambling services in the US prior to the passing of the UIEGA. But, unlike PartyGaming and Sporting Bet, Bet365 refused to pay a big fine to the US authorities for nothing.