The Pools may have been around for a long time but the same cannot be said for its online activities. In fact, the sportsbook and casino sections were only launched in 2018 as the bookmaker decided to build on its already solid pool betting. It was certainly the right move as The Pools now has the ability to attract more customers.
Football Pools Limited owns and operates The Pools and previously, the site actually went by the name 'The Football Pools'. However, this all changed when the rebrand and sportsbook launch took place in 2008. In any case, the company has decided to focus solely on The Pools and is thus yet to launch a sister site, which some punters might be disappointed to here.
On the other hand, there are several good alternatives in the UK - which we will discuss more below - and there is also ample reason to remain at The Pools instead of switching at all.
Above all, at least in my opinion, The Pools offers something different from the rest of the betting sites in the UK. Many of the latter tend to be very similar and browsing them can be rather boring, but that is not the case at The Pools. The site has a unique design and the pool games - as well as the lotto games - are fun to bet on even for the 'regular' sports punters.
Getting into the specifics, our test of The Pools also showed that withdrawals take just three hours, at least when you use a debit card. Many of the new betting sites tend to struggle on this front but at The Pools, it is the complete opposite. In short, there are many reasons to like The Pools but the uniqueness is the crucial one.
The Pools does not have any sister sites, having decided to focus on the core product, but there are some good alternatives for those who like lotto betting.
Lottoland is perhaps the biggest player in the industry when it comes to online lotto betting, so it is certainly a great alternative to The Pools. Similarly to the latter, Lottoland also introduced sportsbook and casino sections several years after the initial launch, now advertising to a much larger demographic.
On the sports side of things, the market depth is actually pretty good and there is even a bet builder. The bookie is also the only one to accept £1 deposits, which is great.
As for the lotto games, Minted 4 Life has the highest jackpot of £9m, but the minimum stake is £2 per bet, whereas the other games are between 50p-£1.
Betfred is known for being a very versatile betting site and that becomes clear when you take a look at the lotto section. It is not just a part of the sportsbook, but rather a separate section and here, Betfred offers everything from national lotteries to lotto games of its own, which is a very nice touch.
Betfred's Nifty Fifty is a particularly popular game, having become a staple of the lotto section, but the odds offered for all games are very good. The sportsbook is obviously very comprehensive and this is where Betfred sees the most success, along with the casino, making it a great The Pools alternative.
William Hill is our final pick for The Pools alternatives as the impressive sportsbook along with the lotto section comes close to some extent. But mostly it is just a good versatile choice. National lotteries are available on the site, as well as the 49s game, and the odds are similar to what you would find on the rival Betfred.
The minimum betting amount is also very low, which some will appreciate, but it must be said that William Hill is bang average for lotto betting. There are no special games or markets and this is something you will find at Lottoland. If you are mainly betting on the Premier League, for example, and just want to place the occasional lotto bet then William Hill is a solid choice.
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Isak is an experienced content writer with a background in sports journalism. Having focused mainly on football in the past, he certainly knows a thing or two about the betting industry and what makes a good bookie. At BettingLounge, he makes sure that the content is up-to-date and presented in the best way possible.