Pools betting refers to a form of gambling in which individuals contribute to a collective pool of money, and the winnings are distributed among those who make correct predictions or selections. This type of betting is common in various sports and games. Here's how it generally works:

Pool Creation: A betting organizer, the Tote in this case, sets up a pool for a specific event, such as a horse race, football match, or any other sporting event.

Contributions: Participants, also known as bettors, contribute money to the pool by placing their bets on various outcomes. The bets are typically on specific events or combinations of events.

Winning Selections: Once the event concludes, the winnings are determined based on the outcomes of the events that were bet on. Bettors who correctly predicted the outcomes share the pool of money.

Distribution: The total pool is divided among the winners after deducting any fees or commissions taken by the pool organizer.

Pools betting is often associated with games where there are multiple possible outcomes, such as horse racing or football matches. It contrasts with fixed-odds betting, where the odds are determined at the time of placing the bet, and the payout is fixed.

One well-known example of pools betting is the football pools, where participants predict the outcomes (usually win, lose, or draw) of a set of football matches. The pool of money is then distributed among those who made correct predictions.