- Editorial4.00
Score4.00
Tote UK Review - Is It Safe or a Scam? (2025)
Tote is one of the largest online pool betting platforms in the world, an understandable title, considering it has been operating for almost 100 years. In this review, we will take a look at everything Tote has to offer, highlighting the pros and cons of the site, and discussing whether or not it is worth signing up.
Pros
- Great Tote Betting Option
- Exciting Horse Racing Markets
- Fast Withdrawals: 15 Minutes in Our Test
Cons
- Betting Prices Not Set
- Sign Up Bonus Could Be Better
Tote Overall Score
| Bonus | 3 |
|---|---|
| Sportsbook | 4 |
| Casino | 3 |
| Customer Support | 5 |
| Payment | 3 |
| Licensing Safety | 4 |
| Design and Usability | 4 |
| Overall | 4 |
For any horse racing fans, Tote is one of the most recognisable brands on the market, especially with its on-course operations. The brand boasts a strong online presence too, with a website and an app to download.
So, it is no surprise that the experience of punting with Tote digitally matches the racecourse experience - speaking from personal experience of using the bookmaker digitally and on a racecourse.
Having said that, Tote features a fantastic range of different sports for punters to browse, meaning it is not limited to one sport. In fact has more than 25 other sports on show too, including your standard options like football, whilst also offering Biathlon, showing its range.
Furthermore, the site boasts quite low betting margins (6.3%), which is among the better averages that we have seen when reviewing sites. On another positive note, Tote also offers speedy withdrawals, which never hurts - just 15 minutes for customers with a Visa debit card.
Whilst it is maybe not one of the top contender's in the game, it certainly is a nice option for punters in our view.
About Tote
Most describe Tote as a revolutionary brand for British bookmaking, especially when it comes to racing, and that is mainly thanks to the pool betting element. Indeed, pool betting is now something that the mainstream bookmakers are looking to tap into.
Initially founded in 1928, the site has always had a strong presence in racing, and this has continued with the step into digital betting. The site was purchased by The UK Tote Group in 2019, after formerly being owned by Betfred, for more than £100 million, showing the company is still as big as ever.
Interestingly, Tote uses the same sportsbook platform as fellow horse racing bookie Fitzdares, namely Amelco. This means there are some similarities between the two and since they both focus on racing, it could be worth taking a look at Fitzdares as well.
In this review, we will discuss everything you need to know about Tote, from the sportsbook to the casino and the payment methods available. By the end of it, you will hopefully be able to make an informed decision about whether to join Tote or not.
Is Tote Legit and Safe?
Tote's UKGC License: 54779
There is no need to have any concerns about the safety and legitimacy of Tote, considering the UK Tote Group hold full licensing from the UK Gambling Commission, whilst also being regulated by the Commission, meaning there are no worries needed in regards to safety.
Tote's Trustpilot Rating: 1.7/5
We often take a look at Trustpilot to assess the safety of the site, and whilst a lot of customers view the site badly, it is mostly due to bonuses not being given, or not being paid out, which is never a good sign. This, then, gives us a further reason to take a deep dive into the site ourselves.
Tote Deposit Methods
Unfortunately, the number of payment methods available with Tote is rather disappointing. In fact, we found that only two methods are accepted, debit cards and Apple Pay, which is undoubtedly a frustration.
Some e-wallets would have been heavily appreciated, with most punters using these to deposit funds. However, the £5 minimum deposit amount can certainly be appreciated. You can find all the details you need about the payment methods below:
| Payment Method | Min. Limit | Max. Limit | Transaction Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Visa | £5 | Not specified | No fee | Instant |
 Mastercard | £5 | Not specified | No fee | Instant |
 Apple Pay | £5 | Not specified | No fee | Instant |
How to Deposit at Tote
If you are unfamiliar with the deposit process at Tote, you can follow our step-by-step guide below for some assistance:
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Enter the Deposit Cashier
Once you have logged into your account, simply tap the icon in the top right of the screen to enter the profile area of the app, then tap the 'Deposit' option.
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Choose a Deposit Amount
Unfortunately, as there are only two deposit methods, there is no selection screen, but rather a selection at the bottom of your screen. So, once you have inserted an amount to deposit, tap your selection.
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Enter Payment Method Information
The final step is to enter your payment method details. In our case, we had to fill in the card number, expiry date, and security number before depositing.
Tote Withdrawal Methods
When it comes to withdrawing funds with Tote, you must use the same payment method as you did to deposit money, which is nothing new and is done to prevent fraudulent activities. Unfortunately, the minimum withdrawal amount is slightly higher than deposits, standing at £10.
In our test, it took less than 15 minutes for the funds to arrive, which makes it one of the fastest sites we have tested. Below, you can find all of the details about withdrawals at Tote:
| Payment Method | Min. Limit | Max. Limit | Transaction Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | £10 | Not specified | No fee | Less than 30 minutes |
| Mastercard | £10 | Not specified | No fee | 1-3 business days |
| Apple Pay | £5 | Not specified | No fee | 1-3 business days |
How to Withdraw From Tote
If you are new to Tote and would like to find out how to withdraw funds, you can follow our step-by-step guide below for some assistance:
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Enter the Withdrawal Cashier
To enter the withdrawal cashier, select the ‘Profile’ option in the top right corner of the screen, then scroll down the page and select the ‘Withdraw’ option.
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Ensure You Have Made a Deposit
It may seem obvious, but to withdraw, you will need to have made a deposit already with a debit card, and the below message will show if you have not.
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Enter Withdrawal Amount
Now, you will need to enter your withdrawal amount. In this case, we chose the minimum of £10. Finally, tap the ‘Withdraw’ button. In our test, it took less than 15 minutes for the money to arrive, which was great.
How to Verify an Account at Tote
Customers, where possible, will be automatically verified by Tote upon signing up. As long as their details match official documentation. However, there are occasions where you may have to provide further details.
Know Your Customer (KYC) processes are very common with almost every bookmaker, and require some form and some proof of address, and both can be submitted to Tote directly. In other words, even if you need to provide additional documentation, it's not really inconvenient.
Tote Sportsbook
Tote's sportsbook is really impressive, and that is without even considering the glaring factors.
The bookmaker is well-known within the horse racing scene, and as we have already mentioned, it is a staple of British racing on-course bookmaking. So, this is where a lot of the site's custom stems from.
When loading onto the app or site, the first sport recommended to you is, as expected, horse racing. In fact, the sport has its own section, with other sports coming under the 'Sports' category. After this, though, finding your chosen sport is no more difficult than most of the best betting apps, for example.
Despite its position in the horse racing segment, the site also offers a fantastic range of sports; with 26 of them on offer, there is something for everyone, including football, darts, tennis and rugby betting. However, lesser favoured sports like bialthon also have a place.
We may as well shine more of a light on racing, seeing as that is what most customers will use the site for. The markets are a level above 90% of other bookmakers, and it definitely has a place among the best UK bookmakers for racing.
The Tote SP Guarantee is also another intriguing way to operate the market, though it could be confusing for some punters, which is certainly unfortunate. That being said, immersing yourself in the Tote experience, so to speak, has a number of benefits, and big money can be won on the site through the Placepots.
Away from racing, the markets are still quite good, with football punters having access to every elite league on the site and app, whilst also being able to access several 'lower quality/interest' fixtures.
Bet builders can be created with Tote as well, which is really positive, and the markets are generally quite generous. Indeed, we tested the betting margin and found that the bookie has an average of 6.3%, which is good even compared to the best scores.
| Football Markets (Premier League Game) | 300+ |
|---|---|
| Betting Margins (Average) | 6.3% |
| Horse Racing Coverage (Countries) | UK & Ireland + International |
Tote Casino
Considering the site's background, it would not have been a surprise if there was no casino area, or even a subpar one. However, it was quite a surprise to see a heavily stacked hub of different digital and live games.
For slot players, there is a nice range of games from a number of the best providers in the industry, such as NetEnt, Elk Studio and Pragmatic Play. Furthermore, the games themselves have a nice range of different features, which is always a bonus.
Then, classic casino games are offered too, meaning customers can also play roulette, blackjack and poker, in classic or live variations, very easily too.
Navigation is quick, with different menu options available, whilst the search feature also adds another layer of ease to the experience. All in all, we were very much impressed.
Tote Mobile App
Tote is probably best known for its physical presence on racecourses, but the bookmaker still holds up fantastically in a digital sense. The app is a great showing of this on both the iOS App Store and the Android Play Store.
On both stores, the app boasts a rating of 4.6 stars out of five, which is among the highest ratings that we have seen. The app is very clean and well put together; in fact, we would argue that the interface is among the best that we have seen in our time reviewing bookmakers.
Navigation is easy, and more importantly, quick, which bodes well for customers. Overall, a very strong choice for any mobile punters.
Tote Responsible Gambling
Having a successful betting brand is reliant on trust from customers, which in turn means you need to provide the tools necessary for the punters to thrive safely. With nearly 100 years of experience, Tote certainly know what is required to help punters from a responsible gambling point of view.
In both the 'Profile' and 'Menu' areas of the app/site, customers can find links to 'Safer Gambling', though this section can also be found in the bottom menu of the app. Of course, this shows Tote's dedication to having this information and help readily available if needed. Information is provided in the area, as are the standard tools offered by bookmakers:
- Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Loss limits (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Reality checks
- Self-exclusion
- Gamstop
Deposit limits are a good place to start if you feel you need to put a limit on your gambling, which there is no shame in doing. Should you wish to take more extreme measures, though, you can do so through Tote.
Tote Customer Support
Let's avoid the small talk. Tote's customer service area is second to none and is among the best that we have seen on the market. Accessing the customer support section is very easy to do on the website or on the app, though browser searching for your query will also bring relevant information from the site.
Should you wish to discuss your issue, you can do so via four methods: postal, email, live chat or through phone calls. This is fantastic, but it gets better yet, which is what sets the site apart in our view.
The live chat, as is common, is available 24/7, which is still nice, but the phone lines are open between 8 AM and midnight every day, which is phenomenal, as most will operate inside stricter times.
| Chat | Yes |
|---|---|
| [email protected] | |
| Phone | 0800 032 8188 |
| Opening hours | 7 Days a week, 24/7 |
How to Get Started at Tote
If you are interested in trying your luck at Tote, follow our step-by-step guide on how to sign up on the site below.
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Head Over to Tote and Tap on ‘Join'
On the home page, you will find the 'Join' option in the top-right corner of the screen.
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Enter Your Account Information
In the first step of the registration, you will be asked to provide an email address and password for your account.
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Enter Your Personal Details
In the second step, you will be asked to provide your personal details such as full name, date of birth and home address. It is important to make sure that these details are correct, as they will be used for the verification.
Finally, confirm your marketing preferences and you will be good to go!
User Reviews
Average score of 2.3 by 3 users
Honor P
22 July 2023
Poor. Signed up via My Racehorse where I have shares. Having logged in once and saved my login details the site tells me every time I try to log in that details are wrong. So I ask for a reset email and nothing happens. Id like to log in so I can close my account.
Veronapqk
9 May 2023
Life
I dumi
8 September 2022
Never contacted them. Never knew they existed. Ive received a text message with set up tote account