The Pools is an online sportsbook and casino founded in 1923. The sportsbooks offer casino games, including live casino, as well as live betting. One big disadvantage of the casino is that it only offers PayPal withdrawals and debit card payment methods for deposits, which is a bit limiting compared to competitors that offer super net banking transfers and multiple payment methods for players.
Upon reviewing the website, there are no major red flags indicating that users are not being paid. One of the big complaints we see is that many users say the bonuses are not being fairly distributed. That’s one of the biggest complaints about the bonuses.
We’re not able to find any major trade online, or are already claiming that the user did not get paid, although, just like other sportsbooks, when a user consistently wins big, their betting gets limited to protect them. That’s one thing we discovered, but all payouts are sent out very quickly with these sportsbooks, and I’ll say they usually go out within 24 hours. So that’s one of the green flags about these online sportsbooks.
The best The Pools alternatives are BetUK, BetVictor, Paddy Power, MatchBook, Betfair, 10Bet, QuinnBet, and Kwiff. MatchBook is the best option for bettors who want better odds and want to bet against themselves.
Top The Pools Alternatives
These are the best The Pools alternatives we have tested and reviewed.
- BetUK – simple mobile betting & clean interface
- BetVictor – fast payouts & big sportsbook markets
- Paddy Power – promotions & entertainment betting
- Matchbook – low commission betting exchange
- Betfair – betting exchange & advanced trading
- 10Bet – all-round sports betting
- QuinnBet – horse racing & value betting
- Kwiff – boosted odds & casual betting
- BetMGM UK – premium live casino
- Midnite – esports & modern UX
- LeoVegas – mobile casino & slots
- Established: 2000
- Min Deposit: £5
- Payout Speed: 24-72 Hours
First, Betfair has been around for almost as long as any other operator and has pioneered the betting exchange model since its inception in 2000. With the exchange format, you are no longer limited by the terms and odds that a house sets, but can compete for better odds on your terms against other players. Being one of the brands belonging to the Flutter Entertainment family, the company boasts incredible financial backing and regulatory compliance: the website is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, and all of its operations are subject to regular audits, something that gives it a significant competitive edge in this respect.
In our opinion, Betfair is the perfect example of a “power user” platform where gamblers can do virtually anything. We’ve tried out the payment system, and Betfair has one of the fastest systems in the country, allowing withdrawals via Visa Fast Funds and e-wallets to clear within two hours. The platform’s layout may be too complicated for beginners, especially compared to straightforward options like Midnite or MrQ, but the variety of markets and betting exchanges definitely makes up for it.
- ✓Very large selection of sports markets, including live in-play betting
- ✓Competitive odds on exchange markets due to peer-to-peer pricing
- ✓Mobile app and website offer real-time betting with fast market updates
- ✓Long-established brand with strong reputation and global user base
- ✗Interface is more data-heavy, which may feel overwhelming for casual users
- ✗Some features are split between sportsbook and exchange, which can feel fragmented
- ✗Customer support is not always as fast or accessible as newer platforms
- ✗Fewer “simple bonus” style promotions compared to newer betting brands
BetUK
- Established: 2022
- Min Deposit: $10
- Payout Speed: 24–48 Hours
BetUK is a betting site geared towards mobile gamblers that doesn’t require many fancy features. As a key product offered by LeoVegas, a globally-renowned mobile games provider, it is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Despite being very sportsbook-centric at heart, its casino portfolio has seen a marked improvement in recent years, boasting over 2,000 games from leading software companies such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. If you are looking for a good mixture of sportsbook and casino functionality that can provide you with smooth transitions between the two without opening a new app, BetUK should be on your radar. The platform is known for its extremely lightweight, minimalist user interface, with no unnecessary “wall of text” to distract you.
- ✓Simple and fast mobile experience
- ✓Fully UKGC licensed and regulated
- ✓Easy payment methods (PayPal supported)
- ✓Quick withdrawals after verification
- ✗Casino section is smaller than casino-first platforms
- ✗Limited advanced casino features
- ✗Bonuses vary and are not always consistent
- ✗Not ideal for high-roller casino players
BetVictor
- Established: 1946
- Min Deposit: £5
- Payout Speed: 0-24 Hours
The BetVictor brand is a heavy hitter in the British betting scene, with a long history dating back to 1946. Though people tend to associate this brand with the “classical” offline bookmaker with origins in Victor Chandler, it is today a major tech provider operating under the BVGroup umbrella. The site operates legally and holds a full license issued by the UK Gambling Commission, with additional authorizations in Gibraltar and Ontario, ensuring a high level of institutional safety. Thanks to the company’s internal development and programming expertise, the platform’s operation is more stable than that of other providers using white-label software.
- ✓Wide range of sports markets, including football, horse racing, tennis, and live betting
- ✓Competitive odds with features like bet builders and enhanced markets
- ✓High-quality mobile apps and smooth cross-device experience
- ✓Regular promotions and welcome offers for new and existing users
- ✓Strong in-play betting with real-time stats and multiple markets
- ✗Limited live streaming options compared to some competitors
- ✗Some users report technical issues with the mobile app
- ✗Bonus offers can include conditions or restrictions depending on the promotion
- ✗Availability varies by country due to regulatory restrictions
Why leave?
Why is it that, in this sportsbook, you see they have a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot as of April 2026? It’s very good for an online sportsbook compared to other sportsbooks like Bet365, which have a lower rating and many user complaints. Also, one of the main reasons users want to leave sportsbooks is the bonuses.
The bonuses are unfair, and there are many complaints from users about them. One of the good sides of the casino we were able to see while testing is that withdrawals are extremely fast, and although they are limited to PayPal, credit card, and debit card.
USA Alternatives
Finding a real-money online casino in the United States that is available in your state can be really complex. Casinos like Stake.us, which is very popular in the US and known for being a crypto casino, are not available in all states. So users have to stick to offshore casinos. Casinos like BetMGM, Stake.us, FanDuel, Bovada, and SportBetting.ag are great options for US players.
The Pools Alternatives Comparison
These are the best alternatives to The Pools, as rated by our team.
| Name | Best For | Rating | Min Deposit | Payout Speed | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetUK | Simple mobile betting | 4.3 | £10 | 24–48h | Clean, lightweight interface |
| BetVictor | Fast payouts & big markets | 4.5 | £5 | 0–24h | Lightning-fast withdrawals |
| Paddy Power | Promotions & entertainment | 4.8 | £30 | 48–72h | Unique promos & features |
| Matchbook | Low commission exchange | 4.5 | £10 | 0–24h | 1–2% commission |
| Betfair | Advanced betting exchange | 4.4 | £5 | 24–72h | Peer-to-peer odds |
| 10Bet | All-round sportsbook | 4.7 | £10 | 48–72h | Wide sports coverage |
| QuinnBet | Horse racing value | 4.4 | £10 | 24–72h | Best odds style offers |
| Kwiff | Boosted odds betting | 4.7 | £10 | 48–72h | Supercharge feature |
| BetMGM UK | Premium live casino | 4.6 | £10 | 24–72h | Vegas-style experience |
| Midnite | Esports & modern UX | 4.5 | £5 | 24–72h | Clean mobile-first design |
| LeoVegas | Mobile casino | 4.4 | £10 | 24–48h | Top mobile experience |
Why Trust Us
There are several steps our team takes to ensure the casinos reviewed on our website are trustworthy. We check reviews on crypto and gambling forums, as well as on Reddit, to see whether the casino pays out to its players or just blatantly scams them.
We also check Trustpilot to see what the major complaints are from users, and we rank casinos with good reviews and first-hand experience. We deposit money into casinos to check whether they are legitimate.
We make withdrawals and play the games to see if there are any lags or irregularities that indicate the casino is a scam.
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