LONDON, Dec 18 — Denise Coates, chief executive of British online betting giant Bet365, has retained her place as Britain’s highest-paid boss, according to the group’s annual report published today.

She was paid a basic salary of £277 million (RM1.5 billion) in the group’s financial year to March, the company’s annual report showed. 

Coates, 52, who co-founded Bet365 in the early 2000s, also earned more than £46 million in shareholder dividends thanks to her 50-per cent stake in the company.

Forbes business magazine estimates that her total worth stands at US$12.2 billion (10.9 billion euros).

Her latest annual salary of £277 million was up £57 million on the previous year.

Bet365, based in the central English city of Stoke-on-Trent, also said that annual revenues increased by seven per cent to £3.06 billion and pre-tax profit jumped by a fifth to £791 million.

However, the group took a hit of £8.7 million from the relegation of the Stoke City from the English Premier League. Bet365 owns the football club. — AFP