What is World Pool?

World Pool is a collaboration between global totes and the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).  

World Pool allows bettors from all over the globe to bet into a single pool, bringing them together into one multi-million pound pool betting experience. It's like the EuroMillions version of the lottery.

Through national commingling, racing fans from over 20 nations including Hong Kong, Australia, France, the USA, the UK and Ireland all effectively bet into the same pool for each race. 

World Pool in Ireland is operated by the Tote. You can bet with the Tote at tote.co.uk, tote.ie, or on the Tote App, at a racecourse, or with a bookmaker as most offer Tote bets in shops and online.

Without bookmakers' commission to pay, the Tote can offer the best value to their direct customers via the Tote website. Tote Guarantee ensures the Tote win price will match or exceed the industry SP, so Tote customers will never feel short-changed on winning bets. The pool betting model means the Tote is agnostic about results so welcomes winning customers and will not restrict bet sizes.

The international nature of World Pool means there is some great value to be found across markets. For example, Hong Kong racing fans will tend to over bet on jockeys they know, in turn shortening their price, meaning other runners are over-priced respective to their chances.

There are currently seven bet types included in World Pool. These are Win, Place, Forecast, Trifecta (first, second and third in correct order), Quinella (first two in either order), Swinger (two in the first three) and Treble.

The 2021 Derby was a World Pool event for the first time and saw the pool grow from £1.7 million to over £26 million with winners paying more on the Tote. For example, Adayar paid £20.24 on the Tote compared to 16-1 with bookmakers.

There are 17 World Pool days on British and Irish racing in 2022, including Coral-Eclipse Day, QIPCO King George Diamond Day, first three days of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the first three days of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day at The Curragh, Both days of Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and The Curragh and QIPCO British Champions Day.

World Pool means bigger financial returns to British racing through increased media rights payments to racecourses and more revenue generated via pool betting.

The “World Pool Moment of the Day” celebrates the most exciting moments at the track on World Pool days. Worldpool Moment Of The Day has recently been won in Ireland by stablestaff from the Dermot Weld, Martin Hassett and Ballydoyle stables. 

This year,  both days of Irish Champions Festival will be  World Pool events. Decided by an industry representative, the member of racing staff from the yard who looks after the horse awarded “World Pool Moment of the Day” will go home with a €4,000 cheque.