Press Release

John Williamson, Chairman of the UK Tote Group, said: "We are pleased to welcome John to the UK Tote Group Board. As one of the most experienced and respected leaders in the betting industry, John will provide valuable support to the Tote team, particularly in relation to product development and customer experience. We are delighted to have John join the team, alongside Andrew Weir who joined the UK Tote Group board earlier this month.”

John O’Reilly said: “Like so many people deeply involved in gambling and horseracing, I have had many connections with, and fond memories of the Tote over the years. While the Tote has a century of history, I believe it has a very valuable role to play in the future of horseracing, both in the UK and Ireland and around the globe. The Tote has an impressive story to tell of innovation and growth in recent years, and through further enhancements to the pool product, alongside developing deepening international partnerships, I believe the Tote has its best days ahead of it. I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the UK Tote Group board and to support the Tote’s future success.”

ENDS.

For further information, please contact:

Susannah Gill
Communications and Corporate Affairs Director
UK Tote Group
susannah.gill@uktotegroup.com
+44 (0)7751 870 929

Notes to editors

John O’Reilly Biography

John O'Reilly has enjoyed 35 years in senior executive roles in the betting and gaming sector, most recently as CEO of the Rank Group Plc, the UK's largest casino and bingo operator, from 2018 to 2026. He has proven business leadership with a breadth of strategic, commercial and operational experience and a strong reputation for helping to facilitate regulatory and legislative change. John was a non-executive director at William Hill Plc from 2017 to 2018, non-executive director and chair at Grand Parade 2015 to 2016 and a non-executive director and chair of the remuneration committee at Telecity Group Plc from 2007 to 2016. He was a senior executive at Gala Coral Group from 2011 to 2015 where he very successfully relaunched Coral online. Prior to this, John enjoyed a 19-year career at Ladbrokes from 1991 to 2010, sitting on the Company board for 16 years, and subsequently, as executive director from 2006 to 2010. Earlier in his career he worked in retail management for Thorn EMI and was also as a lecturer in marketing and consumer behaviour at North Staffordshire Polytechnic. John is Chairman of Weatherbys and a long-term trustee of the New Bridge Foundation, the prisoner befriending charity. He is a very keen racing fan, owning shares in many national hunt horses over the past 20 years including the Cheltenham Festival winner Teaforthree.

About UK TOTE GROUP

The UK Tote Group is the proud owner and steward of the Tote, the UK’s leading pool betting operator since 1928.

UK Tote Group investors are passionate about horseracing. They include owners and the Racehorse Owners Association, breeders and individuals based in the UK and globally.

The Tote is working with stakeholders across horseracing in the UK, Ireland and globally to revitalise and grow pool betting to ensure it is part of a sustainable and successful future for the sport.

The Tote is the pool partner to the major racecourses in Britain, and all Irish racecourses ensuring they benefit from every pool bet. The UK Tote Group is proud to be able to work with them, along with media rights and bookmaker partners to bring innovations and improvements to all of its customer channels, including those within its digital business, through the Tote website (tote.co.uk/tote.ie) and the Tote App.

The Tote is a founding member of the World Tote Association and plays an active role in encouraging collaboration between pool betting operators around the globe. Central to this international collaboration is World Pool which is creating huge pools for racing fans from around the globe to bet into and providing substantial new funding for horseracing.

The Tote employs 200 people who are based in the Tote’s main office in Wigan and its satellite office in London

For more information, please visit www.uktotegroup.com and www.tote.co.uk and follow us @UKToteGroup and @ToteRacing.