Sportech confirms pending sale of football pools

LISTED gaming company Sportech has confirmed it is about to sell its Liverpool-based football pools division.

The board of the London-based group has announced its has received a number of proposals.

In a statement it said: “Consistent with the board’s focus on maximising value for all shareholders, the board has decided to invite each interested party to submit their best and final proposals by mid-January 2016.

“The board will then consider any such proposals and determine whether it is in the best interests of shareholders to proceed with a sale of the business. A further announcement will be made in due course.”

AIM-listed interactive gaming firm NetPlay TV has already said it is in talks over a potential deal, but a price tag of £100m has been suggested, meaning any potential deal would be a reverse takeover as NetPlay’s market value is only about £20m.

The Football Pools has provided customers with the chance to win big cash prizes by playing pool games based on the outcome of football matches for over 90 years.



Despite the surge in online gaming and other competition, around 300,000 every week enjoy Football Pools games. 

The Football Pools has paid out over £3.2bn to winners and donated over £1.3bn to sports, the arts and good causes in its 90 year history.



It has been based in Liverpool since its launch in 1923.