Betting Syndicates Explained

Written by Steven Hubbard
Verified by BettingLounge team
Last updated 27/02/2024

In short, syndicates are a type of pool betting involving two or more players combing their stakes for a chance to win (share with other winning players in the syndicate) huge prizes.

You may also see this type of pool betting called “Colossus” or even “Jackpot” bets. But, they are all under the umbrella of a betting syndicate.

Syndicates used to be exclusively available to horse racing bets. But, you can now find them in football, tennis and even basketball at a number of betting sites in the UK.

How Do Syndicates Work?

Syndicates are when players combine a certain stake into a pool and then make a selection on multiple outcomes. The prize is then divided among those that made the correct selections.

Example: Mr Green: 1x2- Pick 5 for £5000

Burnley vs Aberdeen

Sarpsborg vs St Gallen

Rangers vs Nk Osijek

Dynamo Kiev vs Shakhtar

Reading Vs Derby

With this syndicate on Mr Green, you have to pick either 1x2 for all the matches in the list. If you get them correct you could win a share of the £5000 or, if you are the only winner, the whole £5000. If you get 4 out of 5 correct you could win a share of £1000.

Now the stake is only £2 so the odds you get are far bet than any acca you could build without the syndicate.

With the highest odds combined using a £2 stake on a normal Acca, you could only win a maximum of £1805.42. But, this is with the highest odds, so all the outside bets combined in an acca is still nowhere close to the potential of winning £5000.

What Are Colossus Syndicates?

Colossus is just the name used for this modern form of pool betting. They cover several different sports but mostly horse racing and football syndicates.

  • Guaranteed jackpot prizes- You can get the full jackpot amount regardless of the total amount of contributions from other players.
  • Consolation prizes- Depending on the syndicate you can get consolation prizes if you get 4 or more correct. Check the syndicate information to find out the consolation prizes for each one.
  • Cash Out option- Players can sell all or part of their bet back to the syndicate to guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome. Of course, your selections need to be winning or you have already won several legs.

Pool Types

You can find these different pool types on several different betting sites including Mr Green, FansBet and ThePools.

Football

  • 1x2- Predicting the outcome of a series of matches.
  • Correct score - Pick the exact score for a series of matches.
  • Asian Handicap - Pick the correct final score match Asian handicap in a series of matches.
  • Over/Under - Pick the total number of goals being over or under a specified number (usually 2.5 total match goals) in a series of matches.
  • Both teams to score - Pick “Yes” or “No” for both teams to score in a series of matches.

Horse Racing

  • Win- Pick the outright winner of each race listed in the syndicate.
  • Place- Pick a horse/horses to place in each of the races listed in the syndicate. Check out our horse racing guide for more details.

Betting Sites with Syndicates

Below is a list of betting sites in the UK that offer syndicate betting for a range of sports including football and horse racing.

Thepools

The Pools Syndicates

Thepools is back with a revamped sportsbook design while still offering some of the best betting syndicates with pools games worth up to £3million.

£50+ Free Bets Every Week + Deposit £10 Get 100 Free Spins

Min. Deposit £10
Max. Amount £50
Turnover no wagering
Expiration 7 days
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. 18+, UK only. First deposit and Stake £10 on casino slots. On qualification of the promotion you will receive Free Spins on Big Catch Bass Fishing. Qualifying players will have the Free Spins automatically credited to their account. The value of each Spin awarded as part of this promotion is £0.10 per spin. Full T+Cs Apply.
QuinnBet

QuinnBet Syndicates

QuinnBet is a fairly new Irish betting site (2017) that offers a wide range of pool (syndicate) betting for both football and horse racing. You will find a healthy amount of syndicates to join, and a leaderboard with the best performing syndicate captains!

£35 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins

Min. Deposit £10
Max. Amount £35
Turnover No wagering
Expiration 7 days
To activate this promotion you must deposit and stake a minimum of £10. You must place a minimum of 3 rounds during the qualifying period and 2 of these rounds must be at least half the value of your highest placed wager. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org
FansBet

Fansbet Syndicates

Fansbet is a new betting site that launched in 2017, and recently added a "Jackpots" section for syndicate betting.You will find a healthy community of fellow syndicate punters on FansBet, and massive jackpots reaching up to £1 Million!

200% Bonus up to £200

Wager the bonus amount 5x within 7 days on Sports to release your Bonus. Bonus equal to 200% of qualifying deposit - up to £200. Bonus credited in real money without wagering requirements.

Free Jackpot Games

You can also find free jackpot games on select betting sites like Betway and Paddy Power.

Betway's 4 to Score

Betway's 4 to Score is a a free football prediction jackpot game in which you predict the first goalscorers in four select matches to win up to £50,000!

Paddy Power's Beat The Drop

A fun feature for new and existing Paddy Power customers, in a million-pound drop style for a chance to win £1000. Answer ten questions correctly for a maximum win of £1000. You will have an unlimited play of a ‘10 Q - £1,000 Pot’ game within your first month (30 days) after your first entry. Join Paddy Power today to play Beat The Drop for free today!

888Sport Free-to-play Football Predictor

Try 888Sport’s free-to-play football predictor for the chance to win £8000! Make 8 win-draw-win predictions with the 8 games picked each week by 888Sport. Get all 8 right for the chance to win £8k, or get a £1 free bet for each correct pick!

How to play:

  • Join or sign in to your 888Sport account (UK members who are fully verified only)
  • Make your 8 win-draw-win predictions with the “Up for 8” game
888sport

888sport

Join 888Sport and play it's Free-to-play Football Predictor today!

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus

Min. Deposit £10
Max. Amount £40
Turnover No wagering on free bets (40x casino wagering)
Expiration 7 Days
18+ • New customer offer • Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware

Steven is an experienced iGaming content writer who has been working in the industry since 2018. He is passionate about sports betting and enjoys writing about all aspects of the industry, including bookmaker reviews, betting tips and strategies, and news and analysis. If you have any questions about online gambling in the UK, please don't hesitate to contact him.