Viscountess Astorasked the Home Secretary whether he has figures to show the approximate amount spent annually on football pools; and what proportion of that amount is retained by the promoters?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am informed by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Postmaster-General that his Department estimate that postal orders paid in by football pool promoters amounted, in the season 1938–39, to about £20,000,000, and that at the present time they average about £100,000 weekly. I have no information indicating what amounts reach the promoters in forms other than postal orders. As regards the last part of the Question, I have no information other than the statement of the Football Pool Promoters Association Unity Pool that they pay winners the total amount stated, subject to the deduction of their commission not exceeding 5 per cent. of the total stated and of the actual expenses sanctioned by the accountants.