Football Pools

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 2nd Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

Feb 1936

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Football Pools
2. 2Unemployment - America’s big political issue
3. 3Mussolini’s Diplomatic Conquest

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 3

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: Twelve years ago most of the leading Football Pool promoters were unknown Bookmakers. Today they control the newest and most lucrative business in the country. Started in Liverpool about ten years ago, the orginal Football Pools began business nervously in small back street offices, their success being assured when the World Depression hit the country. Undeterred by the prosecution of one promoter for pocketing 77 per cent of his Pools’ receipts, thousands of unemployed were soon turning to this new chance of escape from their dreary lives. Through the Depression years the Pools’ receipts mounted until more than one million people were sending in their penny bets, confident that sooner or later they must win. In 1934, Parliament considered curbing the operations of the pools, but the 1934 Betting and Lotteries Act left open an old loophole in the Betting Laws whereby this week’s bet could be paid for when next week’s was sent in. Today, many members of Parliament, including Mr. Morgan Jones, find reason for alarm in this rapidly growing business. Not so Mr. A. D. MacGregor of Upminster, who won over £13,000 for a correct solution of a penny Pool.

In sharp contrast to the chances of winning a Football Pool are the odds of older gambling games. In roulette, for instance, the chances of winning are 100-1, but it has been calculated that the chances of finding the correct solution in a Football Pool are over 14 million to one. The Football Association has attempted to a stamp out the Pools by withholding fixture lists, but in spite of this, millions of bets are made every week by people confident that sooner or later they must win, and Saturday afternoon finds whole families tuning in to the Continent to check their bets. Meanwhile, the men whose exploits on the football field make possible this gigantic business, carry on their work for a salary of £8 per week.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.4 No.4 of the US edition.

Keywords

Sport; Gambling; Football

Written sources

The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.