Pools betting is a way of placing bets where your potential winnings depend on the total amount of money staked by everyone taking part, not fixed odds set in advance.
Instead of betting against a bookmaker, you join others in a collective pool and the prize money is shared among those with winning selections.
This guide explores how pools betting works, where you might see it in the UK, and the key terms you might come across. You’ll also find simple examples to help make things clear. Whether you want to understand why people choose this type of stake, or how it differs from other forms of betting, the basics below can help you get started.
What Is Pools Betting and How Does It Work?
Pools betting collects all participants’ stakes into one central pool. Rather than taking odds from a bookmaker, everyone pays in and the final prize fund is formed from these combined stakes. The organiser then takes a set percentage, often called the commission or take, and the rest is shared among the winners.
A familiar example is the football pools. You make predictions on a set of matches, such as which games you think will end in draws, and those with the most correct picks share the prize pool. Because the fund depends on how many people enter and how much they stake, payouts can vary from round to round.
Want a sense of how this compares with more common bets? The next section sets the two side by side.
How Is Pools Betting Different from Fixed-Odds Betting?
The main difference is how potential returns are determined. In pools betting, everyone’s stakes form the prize fund, which is then shared among winning entries. The amount you might receive is not known in advance because it depends on total stakes and the number of winners.
With fixed-odds betting, your possible return is shown when you place the bet. For example, a £5 bet at 3/1 would return £20 if it wins, made up of your £5 stake plus £15 winnings.
If that distinction makes sense, it becomes easier to explore the formats you can try.
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Types of Pools Betting You Can Try
This section outlines some common pools betting options you might come across in the UK. Each follows the same basic idea of sharing a prize pot, but the events and how you make selections can differ.
Football Pools
Football pools are among the longest-running forms of pools betting in the UK. Traditionally, you choose outcomes for a list of matches, often focusing on draws or other set results. Entries are scored, and those with the strongest performance share the prize pool. Modern versions may include predicting scorelines or match results, with entry amounts starting from around £1 and pool sizes changing each round based on participation.
Horse Racing Pools
Horse racing pools group all stakes across selected races, with the Tote being the best-known option in the UK. One popular example is the Tote Placepot, where you pick a horse to place in each of the first six races at a meeting. If each pick finishes in a qualifying position, you share the pool with other winners. Returns are paid as a dividend per unit stake, and the total you receive depends on how many successful tickets there are.
Other Sports Pools
Pools betting now appears across sports like tennis, golf and cricket. Formats range from predicting match winners, to forecasting finishing positions across a tournament. For instance, a golf pool might reward entries that correctly select several players to make the cut, while a tennis pool could focus on backing players to win specific rounds. Rules can vary by organiser, so it can help to check how selections are scored and when entries close.
Once you know the main formats, the next step is understanding how the prize fund is shared.
How Are Winnings Calculated in Pools Betting?
Winnings depend on the total amount staked and how many entries meet the winning criteria. As noted earlier, the organiser removes a fixed percentage, known as the commission or take, from the overall pool before any prizes are paid.
The remaining fund is then divided among qualifying entries. For example, if a £10,000 pool has a 20% commission, £8,000 is left for winners. If eight entries qualify, each would receive £1,000.
Some pools may also split the fund across different prize tiers, which affects how much goes to each level of winner. Because participation and results change, potential payouts will not be the same every time.
Always check the specific rules for the pool you enter, as the number of winners, tiering and settlement method can differ.
Is Pools Betting Legal and Safe in the UK?
Pools betting is legal in the UK when offered by licensed operators. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) oversees providers to ensure they meet strict standards, including fair operation and protections for customer funds.
When you take part with a licensed operator, you can expect identity checks, clear information about how pools work, and transparent details on how prizes are calculated. Licensing information, including the Gambling Commission licence number, should be easy to find on the operator’s website.
As with all betting, outcomes can be unpredictable. Only stake what you can afford to lose, and consider setting limits to help you gamble responsibly.
