2008 - Football Pool Debuts Online

footballpools.com was launched by Sportech in 2008. Image credits. Twitter The Football Pools (@footballpools)

Come summer, The New Football Pool materialises, but with a simpler name – just The Football Pools. Sportech launches it at footballpools.com as an online version of the traditional football pools alongside other popular variants. Coupons now contain fewer football matches. The new concept of using the web piques interest and breathes new life into the waning popularity of football pools to a degree. In 2017, this move would help Sportech sell the business to private equity firm OpCapita for £83 million. Meanwhile, Vernons’ e-gaming division is launched as Vernons.com – a site dedicated to classic online gambling and sports betting, offering casino, sportsbook, bingo and poker. Playtech’s software is put to good use.