Gaming firm revealed as largest donor to In campaign

A STOKE gaming firm has been revealed as the largest corporate donor to the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign in the second list of donors.

Bet365 gave £250,000 to the official In campaign, part of £1.04m it raised during the three weeks to May 12. During the same period Vote Leave received £3.36m, but it has not published details of its larger donors.

Three other companies donated more than £7,500 to the In campaign in the three-week period – corporate finance firm Robey Warshaw put in £50,000, Canary Wharf Ltd donated £25,000 and winemakers Cru International gave £20,000.

The group also received 5,396 donations for sums of £50 or less in the same period.

Bet365 is owned by the Coates family, led by founder and joint cheif executive Denise Coates. Her father, Stoke City chairman Peter Coates, has made political donations through the business previously, giving £100,000 to the Labour Party in 2009 not long after laws on betting firms advertising on TV were relaxed.