The Pools Sister Sites: The Football Pools Network Explained
The Pools shares its UK licence with Football Pools, Footie5 and Rangers Pools, all run by The Football Pools Limited out of Liverpool on Gambling Commission account 48272. What ties them together is that licence and a shared football-prediction heritage that goes back to 1923; where they differ is the product, because The Pools is the only one of the family that bolts a full casino and sportsbook onto the classic pools coupon.
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The Pools Sister Sites in Full
Reviewed by Mike WilsonPublished: Jan 2020
A quick note on what counts as a sister site. The Pools does not market a stable of casino brands the way an operator like SkillOnNet or 888 does. Its real family is the other products on the same Football Pools Limited licence, and most of those are pools and prediction games rather than casinos. On this page we use the common UK search meaning of “sister site”, which is same operator and same licence, so you know exactly which brands are related and which only share a name. The old Vernons online casino, for example, is often listed as a sister but it was run by a different company and has since closed.
Best Sister Brands at a Glance
- Best all-round (casino, sportsbook and pools): The Pools itself, the only brand in the family with a full casino.
- Best for the classic coupon: Football Pools, the traditional score-prediction game the whole network grew out of.
- Best free to play: Footie5, a no-stake prediction game with a cash prize pot.
- Best for club supporters: Rangers Pools, the same pools format wrapped in Rangers FC colours with money going back to the club.
- Best for a quick flutter: Football Pools again, if you want the weekly ritual without a casino account.
How the Network Compares
| Sister brand | Status | UKGC licence | Best for | Welcome offer (always check) | Compared to The Pools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football Pools | Same operator, same licence | Yes, account 48272 | Classic pools and Premier 12 | Free entries via subscription on the pools side | The original product, but no casino or sportsbook attached |
| Footie5 | Same operator, same licence | Yes, account 48272 | Free-to-play prediction | Free to enter, cash prize pot | No deposit needed, no casino, lower stakes feel |
| Rangers Pools | Same operator, same licence | Yes, account 48272 | Rangers FC supporters | Subscription pools entry, club fundraising angle | A club-skinned pools game, not a casino destination |
One thing to keep in mind across the table: since 19 January 2026 every UK licensed operator, this network included, has had to cap bonus wagering at 10 times, so any casino offer you take on The Pools now plays through far quicker than the old terms some affiliate pages still quote.
Football Pools
Run by The Football Pools Limited on the same Gambling Commission licence (account 48272), Football Pools is the brand the rest of the family grew out of. It is a pool betting product first and foremost, built around predicting football scores, with the modern twist being Premier 12, where you pick a dozen matches and try to call the results. There is no casino here and no sportsbook, so the games count is not the point; the draw is the shared prize pot and the century of history behind it. Versus The Pools, think of this as the heritage core without the slots and live tables, ideal if all you want is the weekly coupon.
Footie5
Footie5 is the free-to-play member of the family. Same operator, same licence, but you pick five matches and predict the scores for a shot at a cash pot without staking anything of your own. That makes it the lowest-risk way into the network, and it is free in the real sense rather than a free-bet hook with strings. There are no slots, no table games and no welcome bonus to wager, because there is nothing to deposit. Versus The Pools, Footie5 trades the casino and the real-money pools entirely for a no-cost prediction game, so it suits cautious players or anyone who just fancies the football call.
Rangers Pools
Rangers Pools takes the same pools engine and wraps it in Rangers FC branding, with a slice of the money going back to the club. It sits on the identical Football Pools Limited licence, so the terms, the verification and the GamStop coverage match the rest of the network. It is a club fundraiser dressed as a prediction game rather than a casino, so do not expect slots or a sportsbook. Versus The Pools, the appeal here is loyalty: if you follow Rangers and would rather your stake helped the club, this is the version of the coupon for you.
The Complete Football Pools Network
The family is smaller and more focused than most casino networks, which is worth knowing before you go hunting for ten different casinos with the same owner. Here is the honest shape of it:
- Owned brands on licence 48272: The Pools (the casino, sportsbook and pools brand), Football Pools (footballpools.com), Footie5 (footie5.com) and Rangers Pools (rangerspools.com).
- White-label casinos: none. The Football Pools does not run a white-label platform letting third parties launch casinos under its licence, so there is no skin family to list here.
- Heritage names folded in: Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters were separate pools companies that merged into what became The Football Pools in 2008. They are part of the history, not separate live sister casinos today.
Any list like this is a snapshot, and older affiliate pages still name closed or sold-off brands. The single source of truth is the operator entry on the Gambling Commission register: search the licence number 48272 and you will see the live domains tied to it.
What is the Same and What is Different
| Feature | The Pools | Sister brands |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | The Football Pools Limited | The Football Pools Limited (identical) |
| UKGC licence | Account 48272 | Account 48272 (shared) |
| Signature product | Casino, sportsbook and pools | Pools and prediction games only |
| Bonus wagering | Capped at 10x (UK rule from Jan 2026) | Mostly free entries, little to wager |
| Loyalty or cashback | Rolling promos, no structured VIP ladder | Subscription perks, club fundraising on Rangers Pools |
| Game library | Slots, a few table games, some live dealer | None, these are prediction products |
| Bingo | Not a core feature | No |
| GamStop | Yes, covered (UKGC remote licence) | Yes, covered (same licence) |
| Design | Plain and functional, not flashy | Simple, coupon-led |
Which of These Are Official Sister Sites?
People tend to conflate three different things, so it helps to split them out. First, the official family: the brands on Football Pools Limited licence 48272, which are The Pools, Football Pools, Footie5 and Rangers Pools. These are the genuine, same-operator relatives. Second, the heritage names: Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters were real pools companies that merged into the group, but they are not separate live casinos you can join today. Third, the lookalikes: the Vernons online casino that some lists still show was operated by NetPlay TV, a different company, and it has been closed for years, so it is not a current sister of The Pools at all. If a site is not on licence 48272, treat any claimed link with caution.
Casino and Sportsbook Review
The Pools is one of those names that rings a bell the moment you hear it, especially if you grew up with someone in the house marking off football results on a paper coupon. It has shifted gears a lot since then. What started as pure pool betting now runs a sportsbook and a casino alongside the old prediction game, and the site wears its century of history more comfortably than it wears its casino. It is safe and well licensed, but it is not trying to out-dazzle the big modern operators, and that shows in a few places. Here is how it actually plays.
Welcome Offer and Promotions
New players are usually met with either a sports offer or a casino offer, and the terms are refreshing in one specific way: since the UK capped bonus wagering at 10 times in January 2026, anything you take here plays through much faster than the 35x and 65x figures you will still see floating around on old review pages. Value-wise it sits mid-table rather than top of the pile. The ongoing side is steadier than it is generous: a rolling set of free bets, prize draws and the Mega Spins promotion, where you can pick up free spins daily if you have placed a recent bet. What is missing is a proper loyalty or VIP ladder, so regulars do not build up rewards the way they would elsewhere. If you dip in for the weekly offers you will be fine; if you want a structured rewards scheme, you will not find one.
Games and Providers
The casino is solid rather than spectacular. Slots lead the way, with familiar titles like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest sitting next to newer releases from the established studios. There is a modest set of table games, blackjack, roulette and baccarat, plus a live dealer section that runs smoothly without matching the depth of the specialist casinos. The real point of difference is the sportsbook and the pools games bolted on the side, which tie back to the heritage and give the site a character most casinos do not have. For casual play it is plenty; hardcore slots or live-casino players will notice the library is on the thin side.
Payments and Withdrawals
Banking is reliable but traditional. Debit cards and bank transfer cover the basics, and the modern e-wallet options are limited compared with rivals, which is worth flagging if you lean on something like an e-wallet for fast cashouts. Deposits land instantly and the minimum is a reasonable ten pounds. Withdrawals are where patience comes in: depending on the method you are looking at anything from about a day up to five working days. There are no sneaky fees nibbling your winnings, which is a plus, but in a market that prizes speed this is a clear area for improvement. I would not pick The Pools if same-day cashouts are your top priority.
Support and Responsible Gambling
Help comes via live chat, email and a UK freephone number, mostly during standard hours rather than around the clock. Players generally rate the chat staff as polite and useful, though there are the usual grumbles about slow replies at busy times. The responsible-gambling toolkit is the standard UKGC set: deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and because this is a Gambling Commission licensed operator it is fully covered by GamStop. In the interest of being straight with you, The Football Pools Limited entered a regulatory settlement with the Commission in March 2025 and made a payment of 375,000 pounds in lieu of a penalty over anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility shortcomings in its online betting between 2022 and 2023. That is a real black mark, though the kind of failing the regulator has pushed many operators to fix, and it has not affected the licence. Links to GamCare and BeGambleAware are on hand if you need support.
Mobile Experience
This is the one to know about before you sign up: there is no dedicated app. You play through the mobile browser, which works and is responsive enough, but in a market where most punters expect a polished app it feels like a gap. If app-first play matters to you, that alone may push you elsewhere.
How It Compares to Its Sister Brands
Against its own family, The Pools is the heavyweight: it is the only brand that gives you a casino and a sportsbook rather than just a coupon. Football Pools and Rangers Pools are leaner, prediction-only experiences, and Footie5 is the free taster. So if you want casino games with your football, The Pools is the obvious pick of the network; if you only ever play the pools, one of the lighter sisters does the same job without a casino wallet.
Key Facts
| Operator: | The Football Pools Limited |
| Ownership: | Privately owned (formed from Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters pools; backed by private equity including OpCapita and Hoplon Investment Partners) |
| Head office: | Walton House, 55 Charnock Road, Liverpool, L67 1AA |
| Licence: | UK Gambling Commission, account 48272 |
| Established: | Pools heritage from 1923; current company since 2017 |
| GamStop: | Yes, covered (UKGC remote licence) |
| Sister brands: | Football Pools, Footie5, Rangers Pools |
| Games: | Slots, limited table games, some live dealer, plus pools and sportsbook |
| Payments: | Debit cards, bank transfer, limited e-wallets |
| Min deposit: | 10 pounds |
| Withdrawal time: | About 1 to 5 working days by method |
| Support: | Live chat, email, UK freephone (standard hours) |
| Bonus wagering: | Capped at 10x (UK rule from January 2026) |
| Our rating: | 6/10 |
Operator details last reviewed: June 2026 (last updated 4 June 2026)
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Genuine heritage and a Liverpool-based UKGC operator, so the licence and player-fund protections are solid.
- Bonus terms are easier to clear now that UK wagering is capped at 10x, and there are no hidden withdrawal fees.
- The football-pools and Premier 12 games give it a character and a reason to play that most casinos simply do not have.
- Free entry points exist across the family, with Footie5 letting you play the prediction game at no cost.
Cons
- No dedicated mobile app, so you are stuck with the browser when most rivals offer a proper app.
- Withdrawals can take up to five working days, and the e-wallet options that usually speed things up are thin.
- No structured loyalty or VIP scheme, so frequent players are not rewarded for sticking around.
- The operator took a 375,000 pound regulatory settlement in 2025 over AML and social-responsibility failings, which is a real trust knock.
- The casino library, especially table and live games, is shallower than the big operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns The Pools?
The Pools is run by The Football Pools Limited, a Liverpool company on UK Gambling Commission account 48272. The business grew out of the old Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters pools, was sold by Sportech to the private-equity firm OpCapita in 2017, and has since had investment from Hoplon Investment Partners. The licensed entity is the thing that matters for players, and that is The Football Pools Limited.
Does The Pools have sister sites?
Yes, but not the casino stable people expect. Its same-licence relatives are Football Pools, Footie5 and Rangers Pools, all on account 48272. Those are pools and prediction games rather than separate casinos, so The Pools is really the only casino in its own family.
What casinos are run by The Football Pools Limited?
Just the one full casino, which is The Pools. The other brands on the licence (Football Pools, Footie5 and Rangers Pools) are prediction and pools games without a casino attached. The Football Pools does not run a white-label platform, so there is no wider skin family of casinos.
Are The Pools sister sites on GamStop?
Yes. Every brand on the Football Pools Limited licence is a UK Gambling Commission operator, and all UKGC online operators are required to be on GamStop. So The Pools, Football Pools, Footie5 and Rangers Pools are all covered by the self-exclusion scheme.
Is Vernons a The Pools sister site?
Not today. Vernons was one of the heritage pools brands that merged into the group, but the Vernons online casino that some lists still show was operated by a different company, NetPlay TV, and it closed years ago. It is not a current sister of The Pools, so treat any claimed link with caution.
Are Rangers Pools and The Pools sister sites?
Yes. Rangers Pools sits on the same Football Pools Limited licence as The Pools, so they are genuine same-operator sisters. Rangers Pools is the club-branded version of the prediction game, with money going back to Rangers FC, rather than a casino.
What is the best The Pools sister site?
It depends what you want. For the classic coupon, Football Pools is the heart of the network. For a free play with no deposit, Footie5 is the pick. For Rangers fans who want their stake to help the club, Rangers Pools wins. But if you want an actual casino, none of the sisters offer one, so The Pools itself stays the best all-round choice in the family.
How long do withdrawals take at The Pools?
Cashouts run from roughly a day up to five working days depending on the method, with debit cards and bank transfer the main routes. There are no withdrawal fees, but the limited e-wallet support means you cannot always get the fast payout you might expect elsewhere.
Is The Pools safe and properly licensed?
Yes. It holds a UK Gambling Commission licence under account 48272, which means audited fairness, protected player funds and mandatory responsible-gambling tools. Worth knowing for balance: the operator settled with the regulator in March 2025 over AML and social-responsibility failings and paid 375,000 pounds in lieu of a penalty, the sort of issue the Commission has been pushing operators to clean up.
Are there new casinos like The Pools?
If you like The Pools mainly for the football angle, the closest things are other UK sportsbooks that also run a casino, since the pools format itself is fairly unique to this operator. We only point readers towards UKGC licensed, GamStop-covered sites, so steer clear of any non-UK casino that markets itself as a Pools alternative without that protection.
Our Verdict on The Pools
The Pools is a dependable, well-licensed middle-ground choice rather than a showpiece casino. Its heritage and UK licence give it real credibility, the bonus terms are easier to clear now wagering is capped at 10x, and the pools and Premier 12 games give it a personality the cookie-cutter casinos lack. It is held back by the missing app, the slow-ish withdrawals, the thin loyalty scheme and a 2025 regulatory settlement that is worth weighing. The honest headline for anyone searching The Pools sister sites is that the brand is not part of a casino network: its relatives are pools games, not casinos. So the best sister site for casino play is simply The Pools itself, while Football Pools is the pick if you only ever want the classic coupon. It suits casual players who value the history and a safe, no-frills site, and it is not for anyone chasing slick apps, fast e-wallet cashouts or a big rewards ladder.
CasinoSisterSite rating: 6/10