Press Release

Turnover for UK & Irish World Pool season surpasses £450 million as Tote customers enjoy exceptional value

Turnover for UK & Irish World Pool season surpasses £450 million as Tote customers enjoy exceptional value

Thursday 21st November 2024

Earlier this season, the HKJC announced that its contribution to British and Irish racecourses as a result of World Pool hit £50 million.

The UK and Irish Flat season was brought to a record-breaking close, as a 12-race composite card from Australia and British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 19 October generated $424.1m (£48m) in World Pool betting turnover, the highest recorded on a single day.

That helped carry the season’s total turnover to HK$4.6bn (approx. £455m), which is only marginally down on 2023’s figure of HK$4.7bn (approx. £475m).

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products at the HKJC, said: “Racing in the UK and Ireland has been, and continues to be, the foundation on which World Pool was built and we’re very pleased with another successful season.

“Turnover is right in line with global betting trends and the economic climate, while the record achieved for a composite 12-race card, which mixed racing from Australia with the UK, showed that there are plenty of opportunities for growth.”

 

UK and Irish punters enjoy exceptional value with Tote

Customers betting with the Tote on UK and Irish World Pool days once again enjoyed exceptional value:

  • Tote Win beat the Industry Starting Price in 55% of races and matched on the remaining occasions, returning on average 9% more.

  • A £1 bet with the Tote on every winner on British and Irish World Pool days in 2024 paid £207.86 more than the industry Starting Price.

  • Tote Win overround was 112% versus an industry Starting Price of 120%.

  • Tote Exacta beat Forecast in 84% of races, returning on average 37% more.

  • Tote Trifecta beat Tricast in 84% of races where the Tricast operated, returning on average 59% more.

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote, said: “It’s hugely positive to see British and Irish racing enjoy another successful World Pool season in 2024. With World Pool contributing over £50 million to racecourses since its inception six years ago, and that sum only set to grow as World Pool expands, it has genuinely established itself as one of the most important revenue streams for the sport. At the same time, it is providing unprecedented value for customers with the Tote Win price beating the industry Starting Price over half of the time at World Pool events, and never being beaten with Tote Guarantee.

“With our long-term contract in place with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, making the UK Tote the exclusive partner for World Pool in the UK and Ireland, we look forward to continuing to collaborate on exciting developments, including more World Pool days and improvements to the customer experience for the 2025 season.”

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 since 1928.

UK Tote Group investors are passionate about horseracing. They include owners and the Racehorse Owners Association, breeders and individuals based in the UK and globally.

The Tote is working with everyone in horseracing in the UK, Ireland and globally to revitalise and grow pool betting to ensure it is part of a sustainable and successful future for the sport.

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, along with 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 Tote is a founding member of the World Tote Association and plays an active role in encouraging collaboration between pool betting operators around the globe. Central to this international collaboration is World Pool which is creating huge pools for racing fans from around the globe to bet into and providing substantial new funding for horseracing.

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.