Cookies on the Gambling Commission website

The Gambling Commission website uses cookies to make the site work better for you. Some of these cookies are essential to how the site functions and others are optional. Optional cookies help us remember your settings, measure your use of the site and personalise how we communicate with you. Any data collected is anonymised and we do not set optional cookies unless you consent.

Set cookie preferences

You've accepted all cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Licensees and businesses
  3. Licences and fees

On-course pool betting display requirement

The purpose of this guidance is to provide additional clarity with regards to the requirements laid out in social responsibility code provision 4.2.10. Our primary goal is to maintain transparency for customers.

As a minimum, we want pool betting customers to understand what they could win in the case of win and place bets and what is available to be won in the case of combination bets. Whilst this code provision relates to the display of information for those betting on-course, these principles of transparency should apply equally, where practicable, to other pool betting mediums such as licensed betting premises and online.

We would expect that the calculation used to determine potential dividend returns relies upon the known stakes on each selection at the relevant point in time. We accept these potential dividends are for illustrative purposes and that their accuracy will increase as the pool grows in size and the race approaches its start time.

When considering the scope of the display requirements for each pool operated our expectation focuses on ensuring the display of information for races taking place at the relevant racetrack. Thereafter, licensees offering pools on races taking place at other venues should make this information available in at least one place and this could, for example, be achieved through a looping screen(s) that prioritises information based upon upcoming race times and levels of customer interest.

Combination bets include bets on a single race whereby multiple selections are required (for example, correct finishing orders) and bets that require selections across multiple races.

When referring to unit stakes on all types of combination bets offered we are referring to the total units staked on a pool net of deductions. This allows the customer to simply understand what is available to be won and avoids the need for them to access relevant deduction information to make their own calculations.

Licensees should be aware that they must already publish rules relevant to the deduction levels, expressed as a percentage, for each available pool. Whilst not a licence condition requirement at this time, a best practice approach would see deductions rates transparently displayed at each point of sale.

Last updated: 23 November 2023

Show updates to this content

Formatting changes

Is this page useful?
Back to top