FOOTBALL POOL WAGERS

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1946, Page 5

FOOTBALL POOL WAGERS

(Snecial Correspondent.)

Araazing Growth In Britain NOW £1,000,000 A WEEK

LPNPQN, No.v, 20. If is estimatefl that in Britain tpday £1,000,000 a woOk is wagered tht'ougn foothall ppois, and that cpuppns are torwarded to one or other of tlie pooit. from one put of every two fiouses m tne country. Tfle figures are almost astronomical. Last season the average numher ot pool clients was estimated at 4,000,00a a week, but today, with heavier advertising, ifiore space in the newspapers, and niore money, it is* estimated tlnu this figure has reached 10,000,0y00. Before the season *s opening literally every household in the United Kingdom is convassed by assiduous pools' repre sentatives, and for the modest payment ,of one slrilling, coupons and literature are t'onvarded weelcly, The payments niacie by the pools to tncky investors also are startling. A fortnight ago one leading firm paid out £116,000 among 22,000 clients, and six of eight other leading flrms, eaoh ot which employs between 3000 and 4000 stafl, paid out almost as much. An antime record for any one investor was paid to one man, who won £43,000 for an investment of a few shiilings. Alroady this season several fortunate individuals have won aniounts of over £10,000 each. In addition to nine big lirnis which iiandle the majority of the business, il is estimated there are upward of 20u sinai ler combines.. Their united turnovpr for 34 weeks ■ if the football season is today grcater than that of any single industry in tlie country.

The oporations of the pools are couJucted under strict supervision. Until the end of Ihe wa'r the promoters had their own association, vvhieli Jaid ilown rules, but this organisation has now 1'i'oken up. However, big lirms still adliere to restrictions limifing promoters to 2 per cent. of the total nionev staked, nnd restricting the commission paid to agents. Teaips of chartered accountants are employed by all reputable linns to double-check their coupons and declare thejr dividends. The tremendous growth in the Qperation of the pools is, however, focussing attention upon the necessity for more control and suggestions are being made that the Exchequer should

devise ways and means of using them ior the benefit of the Treasury. This is aelieved to be one'of the several betfcing activities receiving attention from Mr. Datton's experts before the preparation of the next Budget. There have been several coneerted e/forts to suppres's the pools. A clause which threatened to declare them iilegal was renioved from the Betting and Lotteries Hi 11 in 1934,, but two years later a private member 's Bill was introduced seeking to end these operations. The pool promoters organised their forces so successfully that the mea.su ru vvas defeated. by 287 votes to 24. Ilaving survivod this chnllenge, the pools' snowbal! continued to roll until, during tho season immediately prior to the outbreak of war, it is estimated over £40,000,000 was invested in them. During the war professional football was partially suspended, but when it was resumed tlie pools continued to operate, rhough in strict Iv limited form. Ofiieiqlly, they are regarded as good for morale, a view which is apparently shared hy the Germans, for they pennitted pools and gamlfling on British football result s to teontinue in occupied Belgium and Holland. Tocjay there are a great number of varia tions iqion the original systeio of wagering iirst -adopted when the pools were introduced in 1022. One of the chief reasons for the spectaeular growtii in 'their turnover during tlie present season has heen the introduetion of svstems of pernnitation under which clients wager on variaus jcombinations of wins, draws and losses. Atl "ot the popular newspapers fcature advice bv their professional tipsters and, of eourso, every big win provirles its own story. "