Press Release

Will Woodhams, CEO of Fitzdares (Independent bookmaker of the year 2024), said: “We are committed to the future security of British racing and believe that small-staking punters should be encouraged (if not forced) to bet with the Tote, or an equivalent pool. If every £10 or exotic bet is put through the Tote, it would help secure racing’s funding for the future.

“York’s Ebor Festival is a huge week for racing and we’re delighted to be able to add the Tote offering to The Racing App, particularly with the World Pool in action for the first three days.

“As an independent racing bookmaker, our bread and butter is taking larger stakes from our customers and we are committed to servicing these clients in a safe and responsible way.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote, said: “We are delighted to partner with Fitzdares to bring the Tote’s most popular bets, including the Placepot, to racing fans via The Racing App. It is essential that everyone invested in racing works together on innovative solutions to help bring new fans and revenue streams to the sport.

“The Tote is backed by racehorse owners, breeders and people who want to see the sport thrive in the years ahead. This is our number one priority as we work to revitalise and grow the Tote with partners in the UK and internationally.”

Ian Heaney, CEO of Quantum Leap Solutions, said: “The Tote exotics, especially the Placepot, are great bets providing hours of fun and a reasonable chance of winning for a small stake. The Racing App makes it much easier to pick winners. Combining the two is a win, win for punters.”

In addition to this ground-breaking partnership between Fitzdares and the Tote, The Racing App has also launched a new desktop site which will revolutionise home viewing of racing.

It will provide all the essential data, racecards and tips, as well as live streaming of racing, plus a simple way to watch previous performances from the racecard. It’s all totally free to view, as long as customers have an open and £10 funded Fitzdares account.

Only eight months after its relaunch, The Racing App continues to go from strength to strength. Now boasting 50,000 monthly active users, The Racing App has also branched out beyond its industry-leading racing output to feature content from the likes of John Inverdale on tennis, Mark Pougatch on football and Jeremy Chapman on golf, which further solidifies its place as the most in-depth app on the market.

Racing content includes the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, insight from Cornelius Lysaght and trainers Ben Pauling, Charlie Fellowes and George Scott.

ENDS.

For further information, please contact:

Susannah Gill
Communications and Corporate Affairs Director
UK Tote Group
susannah.gill@uktotegroup.com
+44 (0)7751 870 929

Notes to editors

About UK TOTE GROUP

The UK Tote Group is the proud owner and steward of the Tote, the UK’s leading pool betting operator. The Tote has been a core part of British horseracing since 1928 when it was established by Parliament under Winston Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to provide the public with a safe way to bet and vital funding for the sport.

The UK Tote Group is committed to fulfilling the Tote’s founding mission through revitalising the 95-year old British company to ensure it provides better value and an improved experience to customers, as well as increased funding for British horseracing. The UK Tote Group is backed by racehorse owners and breeders from around the world who believe a stronger UK and Irish host pool is an essential component in the successful future of the sport, as is the case in other successful racing jurisdictions.

The Tote is the pool partner to all 85 British and Irish racecourses, and the UK Tote Group is proud to be able to work with them and all of its media rights and bookmaker partners to bring innovations and improvements to all of its customer channels, including those within its digital business, through the Tote website (tote.co.uk/tote.ie) and the Tote App.

The UK Tote Group is a founding member of the World Tote Association and will co-chair the organisation between 2022-24. The UK Tote Group is committed to working with international partners to grow pool betting in a sustainable manner, while showcasing the benefits of the sector to stakeholders, including customers, regulators, national governments, the racing industry and society as a whole.

The Tote employs 200 people who are based in the Tote’s main office in Wigan and its satellite office in London.

For more information please visit www.uktotegroup.com and www.tote.co.uk and follow us @UKToteGroup and @ToteRacing.

About Fitzdares

Founded in 1882, Fitzdares has blazed a trail as the only bookmaker who offers a truly personal betting experience. Fitzdares aims to make it personal. Clients can place bets in more ways than any other bookmaker, via: app, website, live chat, SMS, email and telephone. This multi-channel approach, monitored by a dedicated team of brokers, allows Fitzdares to build genuine relationships with clients, taking wagers, answering questions, and even debating the sporting topics of the hour. In 2020, it was named as SBC’s ‘Racing Sportsbook of the Year’ with its bespoke service setting it apart from competitors. Doing business properly is at the heart of the Fitzdares ethos. All clients are monitored by a carefully assigned safer gambling team to ensure a safe and fun experience. 

Fitzdares clients are treated to sporting experiences like no other. From panels, to parties, the length and breadth of the country, Fitzdares continues to bring together its unique blend of sporting expertise with a taste for the finer things. In 2020 it opened a private members club in Mayfair, The Fitzdares Club, extending its portfolio in 2022 to launch a second location in the heart of the Cotswolds at Naunton Downs, as well as pop-ups at The Cheltenham Festival, Windsor Racecourse and Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham FC.