Welsh great-grandfather lands £291,000 on The Pools

• A 77-year-old great-grandfather from Pontypridd wins £291,000 after landing eight score draws with The Pools.
• The jackpot was secured thanks to Manchester United’s 4-4 home draw with Bournemouth completing his Classic Pools coupon.
• The win comes as The Pools continues to refresh its brand and leadership team in the UK betting market.

A Welsh great-grandfather from Pontypridd is celebrating a life-changing £291,000 win with The Pools, after correctly predicting eight score draws on his Classic Pools coupon, capped by Manchester United’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.

Peter, 77, has played The Pools for more than 40 years and secured the jackpot through a weekend of high-scoring fixtures in December, followed by a memorable Monday night climax at Old Trafford.

Classic Pools coupon delivers record win

Peter’s winning run began across a busy European football schedule, where seven of his chosen fixtures finished as score draws on the Saturday and Sunday. Going into Manchester United v Bournemouth on the Monday evening, he needed one final score draw to complete his eight-fold selection and land the top prize with The Pools.

The Premier League clash turned into a goal-filled contest, ending 4-4, with Eli Junior Kroupi’s 84th-minute equaliser proving decisive in landing Peter’s jackpot payout. The result delivered the biggest Classic Pools win since September 2024, when another customer collected £318,292.

Peter said he did not realise immediately that his coupon had been successful.

“I had selected the eight fixtures, but wasn’t watching the Manchester United game – it wasn’t until I received the phone call the next morning that I realised I’d won! I was shocked, happy, crying – all those emotions at once!” said Peter, a Classic Pools winner with The Pools.

A lifelong Liverpool supporter, Peter said 2025 was a year to remember on and off the pitch.

“I’m actually a Liverpool fan, so it’s fair to say we had a good 2025 – lifting the Premier League trophy and then winning on The Pools the week before Christmas. There was certainly plenty of celebrating across the festive period!” he said.

“This would be special at any time of year, but especially around Christmas and New Year, it was amazing, it couldn’t be better.”

Peter has been a regular Pools player for decades, treating it as a weekly hobby and part of his football routine. He has won smaller amounts in the past, but nothing on the scale of this latest jackpot.

“The Pools has always been a hobby for me and I look forward to playing every weekend,” he explained.

“I’ve won small amounts with The Pools before, but nothing quite like this! It’s an amazing amount of money for my wife Janet, the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren too.”

Looking ahead, Peter said the money will help the family improve their living situation and plan together for the future.

“We live in a house, but we can now hope to move into a bungalow, all on one floor, which will help me a lot. This money means happiness and security for my family, which will allow us to plan for the future.”

“You couldn’t write the script” says The Pools CEO

James Arnold, CEO of The Pools, praised Peter’s achievement and highlighted the impact of such wins on long-standing customers.

“We’re all about celebrating all wins at The Pools, both big and small, but it’s fair to say one of our customers in Wales pulled off quite the coup with this Classic Pools selection last month.” said Arnold said.

“Peter has played with The Pools for more than 40 years, so to see his success one week before Christmas, the same year his beloved Liverpool won the Premier League… it’s fair to say you couldn’t write the script for this one!”

Peter’s winning Classic Pools coupon featured the following score draws:

• Telstar v NEC – 2-2

• Waregem v RAAL La Louviere – 2-2

• AC Milan v Sassuolo – 2-2

• Bayern Munich v Mainz – 2-2

• Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund – 1-1

• NAC Breda v Utrecht – 1-1

• Genk v Westerlo – 1-1

• Manchester United v Bournemouth – 4-4

The Pools’ evolving customer focus

Peter’s jackpot comes during a period of strategic evolution for The Pools, as the 102-year-old British betting brand continues to modernise its offering and strengthen its leadership team.

The operator recently appointed Joseph Carter-Bell as Director of Customer Success and Operations, bringing 15 years of customer service and safer gambling experience from roles at MrQ and LeoVegas Group.

Carter-Bell is tasked with overseeing customer service, customer success and operational compliance, with a focus on delivering a more cohesive player journey for both long-time Pools customers and newer digital audiences.

The hire forms part of a wider restructuring at The Pools following a major rebrand, which updated its digital membership proposition and refreshed the way the brand engages with UK bettors.