There are few more popular sports to bet on across the globe than football. With millions of viewers tuning throughout the world to watch action in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A during a season, it is little surprise that betting on the sport has become incredibly popular in recent history.
Sportsbooks, such as the ones you can find in YouBet, ensure that gamblers are able to make bets on a selection of markets, including first goalscorer and final result.
However, one of the most traditionally popular forms of betting on the sport still revolves around pool betting.
Early History of the Football Pools
Football Pool betting is one of the oldest types of wagering options on the sport, as its roots can be dated back to the 1880s. During this period, the Football Field newspaper would offer a prize of one guinea to the player that could predict the results of four matches taking place next weekend.
However, if more than one player had the correct results, then the guinea would be shared. Prize money in pools increased over time, with the first prize in 1910 by The Umpire offering a share of £300. Pool betting grew in prominence throughout the 1900s, with the original format of the bet that we know today born via a trio of men from Birmingham, England.
They determined that a pool would be set by the stakes put into the purse by the players, with the management taking their 10% share for organising. Initially, it wasn’t successful, with the scheme losing money up until it finally took off in the late 1920s. However, one of the founding members, John Moores, was later arrested under the Ready Money Football Betting Act 1920, but his later appeal was upheld.
What Is Pool Betting in the Modern Day?
Pool betting in its general principle hasn’t changed that much from the idea originated in Birmingham back in the 1910s.
The pool is made up by the accumulation of stakes that have been put into the purse, with the returns awarded based on the number of players that have winning selections.
Today, there are pool betting options for a selection of popular football betting markets, including correct scores, first goalscorer, and match result.
Is Pool Betting Still Popular in Football?
Pool betting on football has been diminishing within the betting landscape across recent years.
However, it remains prominent when making selections on horse racing, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland with options at the track including Placepots. Football pool betting began to decline in the 1990s following competition from the National Lottery.
This saw the number of pool players drop from a staggering ten million in 1994 to just under 700,000 in the early 2000s. Leading pool companies would later be sold, including the most famous, Littlewoods, which was purchased by Sportech for a staggering £161 million in 2000.
What is the Difference Between Pool and Fixed Odds?
Many of the same betting markets can be found when making selections on either the pools or traditional sportsbooks. However, the biggest difference between the two revolve around the odds available.
At a traditional bookmaker, a player will be making their selection on fixed odds, ensuring that they will know what they stand to win after making their selections.
However, bets in a pool will be determined based on the number of players that have made the same selection, and the odds may not be available until after the event. Unlike fixed-odds betting, players in the pool are betting against each other in the hope that they are the only bettor to have predicted an outcome.
Biggest Pool Wins
Pool betting is popular across the world, meaning that there have been some huge returns throughout history. The first major win dates back to the 1970s, as two Italians won their share of £1.5 million.
However, the biggest cash payout in football pool history can be dated back to Brazil in 1981, as a bettor won a staggering $3 million.
One of the most famous betting pool wins in UK history came back in 2010, as Michael Elliott from Brechin, won a staggering £3 million on the pools after predicting eight 2-2 draws across England, Spain, and Scotland.
Strategy For Betting on Pools
Like betting on usual fixed odds, there is also a strategy when it comes to making selections on the pool. The same research pattern should be followed, which includes examining the form of the teams involved, and identifying any head-to-head trends that could impact the outcome.
Bettors should also examine the chances of underdogs, as an outside chance could be a solid selection to get value, and it could enhance the returns that you stand to win in a pool. However, most importantly, it is vital to gain an understanding of how pools work, and what is required to get returns.
Written by Steve Jones
