With more Britons than ever trying their hand at online gambling as well as betting in general it comes as no surprise to see those who own gaming companies reaping the substantial benefits.

Last weekend’s Sunday Times’ 20th annual survey of Britain's richest individuals has revealed that the leading figures in the UK’s gaming industry are now worth almost ten billion dollars.

The highest ranked individual in the industry is 52-year-old Michael Spencer at number 62 on the ‘rich list’. Alongside personal holdings, his stakes in inter-dealer broker Icap and spread betting firm City Index have pushed his wealth to an estimated $2.27 billion from last year’s position of 88th with $1.59 billion.

The co-founder of PartyGaming, Anurag Dikshit, has fallen 22 places to 94th as the drop in the firm’s stock price eroded his personal fortune to $1.61 billion from $1.82 billion last year. The company’s other co-founders, Russell Deleon and wife Ruth Parasol, fell to 97th position with $1.51 billion compared to $1.69 billion last year.

The annual survey includes people born or based in Great Britain with valuations carried out in January based on estimates of identifiable wealth including land, property or significant shares in publicly traded companies.

Brothers Fred and Peter Done of bookmakers Betfred have climbed from being the 253rd richest people in the UK to number 126th with $1.26 billion in holdings, a massive $694 increase over last year. Betfred is one of the UK's largest retailers and appeared on The Sunday Times Top Track 100 list of Britain's biggest private companies at number 38.

Other notable people on the list included Victor Chandler at 244th with $724 million while the founders of Bet365, Peter and Denise Coates, appeared at 270th with $595 million followed by Vikrant Bhargava, co-founder of PartyGaming, at 289th spot with $567 million.

Tied in 438th spot with personal fortunes worth around $377 million were the co-founders of Betfair, Andrew Black and Ed Wray.

New entries John and Kathleen Boyle, owners of Boylesports, appeared in 717th place with $222 million while the founder of Stanley Leisure, Lord Steinberg, came in at 724th with $218 million.

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