Irish Tote to offer increased pools and best odds guaranteed through UK alliance

Tote Ireland punters have received a shot in the arm following confirmation that the organisation will now provide best odds guaranteed and bigger pools through its new strategic alliance with the UK Tote.

The seven-year deal, which was approved on April 27, comes as a welcome boost to the Irish system, with a new website allowing a single unified online betting pool for Irish and UK Tote customers.

From early next month, account betting on Irish Tote pools will be done through a new website – tote.ie – with existing customers required to register for a new account on the new platform.

Win bets placed through the Irish Tote will pay the industry starting price or bigger, while Irish racing fans will also be able to contest the Tote Ten To Follow for the 2020-21 jumps season, which is expected to have a prize fund of €200,000.

Tote Ireland: set to offer best odds guaranteed to puntersCredit: Patrick McCann

"This is an important step in the renewal of Tote Ireland," said the organisation's general manager Ross Kierans.

"The online betting environment is a very competitive one and by partnering with the UK Tote we can ensure that customers enjoy a first-rate online experience when playing on Irish pools while also supporting Irish racing by having their bets with us via the new website."

He added: "We are also very excited to be announcing a Ten To Follow competition and an instant Tote Guarantee (known as Best Price Guarantee) for Irish customers in 2020.

"Rest assured we will do everything we can to help customers with the re-registering process."

Tote Ireland: sponsors the Galway Plate, won last year by the ill-fated BoriceCredit: Patrick McCann

Tote Ireland customers will receive welcome offers to re-register their account on the new website, while full telephone customer support will be offered on the new platform.

There will no longer be a telephone betting service but live racing streaming will be available for Irish customers.

Horse Racing Ireland's statistics for 2019 revealed that Tote Ireland's annual turnover fell by just one per cent on course but suffered a greater reverse overall with a 13 per cent (€9 million) drop.

This was understood to be linked to a significant dip in international money bet off course into Irish pools.

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