SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
World Pool enjoyed a strong performance at this year’s Royal Ascot, registering turnover growth on every day of the meeting, and finishing 10% up from 2024.
Meanwhile, across the full five-day Berkshire festival, total turnover climbed to £150m, whilst £60m of this sum was for international World Pool wagers during the event’s first two days alone. Furthermore, Ascot oversaw a record £33m on the Wednesday, which was the highest second-day total since Royal Ascot 2019 – the World Pool’s first event.
Ascot also partnered with Spotlight Sports Group (SSG) in April this year to launch Smart View for Royal Ascot – a product designed to simplify traditional racecards – which may have encouraged further participation for those less experienced bettors.
The new technology was featured across Ascot’s printed racecards, Tipster Boards and “Bet with Ascot” screens. For the first time, Ascot also introduced self-service electronic betting terminals for improved accessibility.
World Pool, which is hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, plays a key role at Ascot by supporting prize funds such as the £10m pot, while simultaneously enhancing the international liquidity of betting through its globally commingled wagering system.
Felicity Barnard, CEO at Ascot Racecourse, said: “It was a fantastic week and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to be a window to the world for British racing.
“The World Pool numbers really reflect that and it’s great to see such an uplift in turnover year-on-year. There was also some real value for customers on and off site which showcases the benefits of World Pool and increased liquidity for everyone.”
An international appeal
The figures from World Pool display the appeal of British racing’s highest profile flat meeting, particularly with a global audience. Punters from over 25 countries including the UK, Hong Kong, South Africa and the US placed bets on the event.
Turnover this year is only 2% lower than in 2022, which retains a record £149.2m. Sam Nati, Head of Commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, explained that the result was inflated due to Covid.
He added: “World Pool continues to drive some great value for customers, with dividends consistently outperforming the local SP.”
Each day of Ascot also featured a World Pool ‘Moment of the Day’ prize, with winning grooms awarded £4,000 and a chance at a VIP trip to the Hong Kong International Races.
“In terms of quality, quantity and competitiveness, the fields were fantastic all week,” Nati continued. “There was also some good international representation, both in the horses running and the jockeys taking part, so it was a good mix of key factors for both local and overseas punters.”
Looking back to 2024, total World Pool turnover stood at £144m. According to a report from UK Tote, £137m was staked by UK punters alone – up from £92m in 2023.
