The Pools Bookmaker Review and User Ratings

Our in-depth The Pools review, covers the sign-up offer, markets and odds, plus the overall experience. We use expert and player ratings to give you an overall impression of the iconic bookie, so you can decide for yourself if they are the one for you.

4.7/5
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
gambling commission

Leon MarshallWritten by Leon Marshall

Last updated:

Average Markets (EPL):136+
Number of Sports:27+
Licensed by:UKGC
Licence Number:48272
Cash Out:Yes
Mobile App:android, ios
Payment Methods:Paypal, Visa, Mastercard
Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, UK only. Min odds and selections apply per offer. Cashed out bets and bets on non-runners do not qualify. Free bets are credited at bet settlement and will expire 7 days after being credited. Full terms apply per offer. 

The Latest The Pools Sign-Up Offer

The Pools offers new players an opportunity to get £20 in free bets after playing a qualifying bet of £10. This is a solid way to kick start your account and an easy way to discover all the various markets – whether you want something familiar or to try a new sport bet. There are terms and conditions attached, so you should always read through these.

How to Claim The Pools Welcome Bonus
The Pools signup pageThe Pools Signup Page
The Pools payment optionsCreate Your Account
The Pools sports betting siteEnjoy Placing Your Bets

Our Complete The Pools Bookie Review

While in the process of compiling The Pools review, our team was impressed by the depth of and range of betting markets to choose from. All the most popular UK markets are covered with a wide variety of betting options, particularly those involving football, cricket, and horse racing. But what makes The Pools one of the best betting sites is the diversity of sports available, from top Irish competitions like GAA Football and GAA Hurling, right through to MMA and a superb focus on Esports.

The Pools Summary
A look at the The Pools website
Sportingbet main page of the site
Sportingbet horse racing page
Sportingbet greyhounds page
Sports Market Coverage
American Football, Athletics, Australian Rules, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Esports, Football, GAA Football, GAA Hurling, Golf, Greyhounds, Handball, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, MMA, Motor Sports, Politics, Pool, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Snooker, Specials, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball
Mobile AppN/A
Bet ExchangeNo
In-Play BettingYes
Live StreamingNo
Streaming RequirementsN/A
In-Play CashoutYes
Other FeaturesLive Statistics
Minimum Bet£0.01

Betting Odds

The Pools’ odds are competitive for major UK sports, with football and horse racing odds offered around industry average. They don’t offer the best out there but are reliable for most main markets and can be relied upon.

Bonuses

Aside from the sign-up bonus, The Pools offers ongoing football acca deals, event-based specials, and price boosts on select matches each weekend. In terms of betting offers they are pretty well stocked and they even have enhanced odds on their promo hub. To claim The Pools bonus weekly acca offer, punters need to place a minimum bet of £10 – beware that cashed out bets and non-runners do not count. Once the qualifying bet is settled, the free bets are credted and will expire in seven days. Likewise, alternative promotions are available for the iconic Football Pools all of which can be accessed through the same website once you have an account.

Football Betting

All top European and UK leagues are covered, as well as international fixtures, with pre-match and in-play. Weekly football acca promos are available; in terms of the best football betting sites list, they rank highly. Bet Buiders are also available, as well as other specials.

Horse Racing

Daily coverage of UK and Irish racing, plus international action. Racing promos and price boosts occasionally available; they are better horse racing betting sites, due to the lack of BOG and streaming that is currently not offered.

Tennis Betting

The Pools offer ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam markets every week—including outright, set, and live options. Like other tennis betting sites they cover the Grand Slams with more gusto, but they do offer markets year round on smaller events.

Cash Out

Full cash out is available on many football, and tennis bets (pre-match & in-play). We found that compared to other betting sites with cash out, it was responsive and the amount offered updated quickly. Nothing to complain about here.

In-Play and Live Streaming

Live betting markets with detailed stats are offered for football, tennis, and many other sports. No live streaming yet, but their platform is comparable to other in-play betting sites for real-time stats.

Casino Games

The site has a full casino offering with over 1000 slots, 50 table games, and live dealers. It’s not as extensive as some online casino sites, but The Pools Casinos does have some nice ongoing promotions, although the sign-up offer of 100 free spins is pretty poor. Overall, if you like to have a go on the casino they are a solid choice.

The Pools Mobile Betting App Reviewed

The Pools= mobile site While there’s no native app, The Pools’ mobile site is responsive and easy to navigate on iOS and Android, and works fine. Mobile play covers all the normal betting features you expect to find on your regular computer. If you want a dedicated app check alternatives on our best betting apps hub.

Placing a bet on mobile is simple and the same as on desktop. Betslip functionality is also fine, and we didn’t experience any lag or other obstacles. Markets are easily accessible too, and you can find what you want to bet on easily enough – sometimes loading can feel a bit laggy. Obviously, it is a bit annoying there is no app – even if some other sites say there are, we assure you there isn’t – just check the App Store or Google Play Store for yourself. Once they get one, we’ll let you know.

Payment Methods and Withdrawal Times at The Pools

Compared to many other sports betting sites, deposit and withdrawal options are quite limited at The Pools, and there are only three methods available. Choices include VISA or Mastercard debit card and just the one e-wallet option via PayPal. Despite stating in the Terms & Conditions that processing withdrawals can take 3–5 days, we found in our review of PayPal betting sites that transactions usually take less time to process. All deposits and withdrawals are displayed in pound sterling, and no other currencies are available.

The Pools Accepts The Following Payment Methods
Payment MethodDeposit Min.Deposit Max.Process timeFeesWithdrawal Time
Paypal£5N/AInstantNo3 – 5 Days
Visa Debit£5N/AInstantNo3 – 5 Days
MasterCard£5N/AInstantNo3 – 5 Days

Customer Support at The Pools

During this The Pools Review We were pleased to see that freephone support is available, which isn’t always the case these days at many betting sites. There’s also live chat, plus email and even the option for old-fashioned postal correspondence. When our team tested and evaluated each of the customer service options, all methods were simple to access and easy to use, while the responsiveness to queries by genuine human staff at The Pools added to our confidence. Nevertheless, we did feel the lack of 24/7 support was a minor drawback, particularly for such a large and famous company.

The Pools Support Details
Telephone Number0800 500 000
AddressThe Football Pools, Walton House, 55 Charnock Road, Liverpool
Post CodeL67 1AA
Emailsupport@thepools.com
Live ChatYes
Opening HoursMonday to Saturday 8:30am – 10pm
Sunday 12pm – 10pm

The Pools

The Pools offers freephone customer support, live chat, email, and even traditional postal correspondence.

Our Final Rating of The Pools

When you have such an iconic brand, familiar to generations of British sports betting fans, it’s hard to ignore what The Pools has to offer within the modern online betting scene. The diversity of markets and betting options impressed our team of reviewers. We see lots of potential, which certainly makes The Pools one to try and keep following with interest, both now and in the years to come.

Our Overall Rating in Detail
Markets5.0/5
Support4.5/5
Live Betting4.0/5
Mobile App4.5/5
Bonus4.5/5
Iconic & Historic Brand High-Quality Sports
Betting Platform

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best offer at The Pools?

The Pools welcome offer gives you the opportunity to receieve £20 in free bets when you bet £10. This free bet offer can be used on a variety of markets and comes with fair terms - which you should check in full before triggering.

Are offers at The Pools available for UK customers?

Yes, all the promotions and offers published by The Pools are available to UK customers. Likewise, GBP is the only currency available. While there is no specific sign-up or welcome bonus, The Pools does have a wide selection of new and ongoing offers , which you can choose from once registered at the site and having made your first minimum £5 deposit.

Is The Pools trustworthy?

The Pools is a completely trustworthy and legitimate online bookmaker, fully licenced by the UK Gambling Commission. Registered as Football Pools Limited and under licence number 48272, this operator is compliant with all the latest regulations, ensuring the safety and fairness of betting at the site.

The Pools Player Reviews and Comments

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