The Pools Sister Sites - Alternatives Listed and Reviewed
Find and compare the best UK alternatives to The Pools, operated by Football Pools Limited, and claim the welcome offers available.
The Pools Alternative Sites Listed (2024)
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Who Owns The Pools?
The Pools, formerly known as The Football Pools, is a bookmaker with rich roots in the history of UK betting. Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters - three names synonymous with the early stages of UK football betting - came together in 2007 to found the site as it is now. With a focus on lotto and sports (as the name and roots would suggest), it is an intriguing choice for customers.
Given the site fills quite a unique role within the market, there are no sister sites operated by Football Pools Limited or even the owners of the company - OpCapita. With this being said, whilst The Pools is a decent option, there are some very good alternatives and we will go through these below.
My Thoughts on The Pools
The Pools' niche is, without a doubt, the Lotto and Pool betting areas. It serves as one of few bookies to offer both of these, and it is one of the best for doing so (possibly due to the lack of alternatives, though). Especially the football pools are highly-rated as that is ultimately how things started for the bookie.
I think my biggest issue, though, is the lack of an app. Of course, having an app is an expensive operation, and whether it would massively add to the experience is unknown. However, customers - myself included - would much prefer betting on an app rather than having to access a web browser to place bets.
Review of the Best The Pools Alternatives
Below, we have named some of the best alternatives to The Pools in the UK and why punters should consider signing up for these.
Lottoland
The obvious starting point for alternatives is Lottoland. Given the heavy focus on lotto betting on The Pools, it would be nonsensical not to put forward another similar option. Of course, they are rare to come by, and it is definitely a niche, but Lottoland is as good as it gets.
There are some eye-watering jackpots available on the lotto games, and with an app on the iOS and Android store, it is a much simpler process compared to The Pools. Additionally, there are more sports markets available so if anything, Lottoland is an upgrade on The Pools and a must-have for Lotto fans.
Bet365
Whilst most punters will already have an account on Bet365, it is worth mentioning as an alternative, even if there are no lotto options available. However, the sportsbook more than makes up for this and for The Pools customers who are left wanting more sports betting options, Bet365 is the go-to.
Customers can create bet builders on The Pools, but the options are limited, and the experience is rather lacklustre. This feeling is heightened when seeing the possibilities on Bet365. On the leading football betting sites in the UK, the selections are much more vast, and the experience of placing the bet itself is much nicer. A necessity for any sports betting fans.
Spreadex
Aside from the Lotto area, the other big selling point of The Pools is its fantastic sign-up offer, which sees customers able to receive £50 in free bets every week - a phenomenal offer.
There are only two bookmakers who come close to matching this, and we're putting forward Spreadex, which offers a similarly generous offer. Additionally, it is ranked as our best spread betting site in the UK, so anyone with an interest in that market will be right at home on the site.
Welcome Offers of The Pools Alternative Sites
Below, we have collected the sign-up offers and welcome bonuses that are offered by The Pools' alternatives.
| Operator | Welcome offer | Bonus code | See Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Welcome offer Bet £10, Get £10 Free Bet | No code required | See Offer | 18+. Opt-in required. New sports customers only. Deposit £10 with a debit card via the promo page. Stake £10 with minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0) and get a £10 free bet if your first bet loses. Max £10 free bet. Sportsbook only. Free bet valid for 7 days. Full terms apply #ad BeGambleAware |
| | Welcome offer Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | No code required | See Offer | New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. |
| | Welcome offer Bet £25 Get £50 in Bonuses | No code required | See Offer | Join and place a £25 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Get 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst. Free bets expire after 28 days. Full T&Cs apply. |
Accredited football journalist with a focus on Italian football, working for the likes of SempreMilan and Serie A Total. As an avid punter, I enjoy browsing sportsbooks for the best-value bets.