Office pools have been around since the advent of the office itself, or at least that’s what it feels like. It’s not difficult to see why: they’re fun, provide a distraction from the drudgery of a cubicle or open office life, and add just that right amount of competition to keep things interesting.
The problem is that most office pools are all about sports. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does sometimes exclude those who don’t follow baseball or football like it’s their religion. To make sure everyone feels right at home in your office pool, here are some alternative ideas to consider:
The Office Lottery Pool
In 2018, a group of 11 office co-workers in California won a staggering $543 million in the lottery. Not a bad chunk of change, right? Well, it all started with an office lottery pool, costing just $2 a pop.
We’re thinking that it’s a wager worth making. It’s a great way to get people excited every week, with office dwellers dreaming of their escape pods out of the 9 to 5, the endless vacations they’ll be able to go on, and that sweet, sweet early retirement.
Of course, you have to make sure that the rules are clear at the time of purchasing lottery tickets, and that everything is above board. The last thing you want is an individual being in charge and suddenly getting greedy when you hit the big one.
Online Casino Tournaments
We’re going to continue our chance-based suggestions and talk about the online casino office pool, which is a little more interactive than a simple office lottery. Sweepstake casinos tend to be the best for this style of gameplay, as they provide an added element of fun and the setup works well too.
In this pool game, you’ll pitch players against each other in various casino games. For example, blackjack, roulette, and even the almighty slot. The first thing you want to do is find a casino review site with bonus codes and a wide array of games; they’re pretty easy to find, just make sure that they have a stamp of approval from a valid authoritative body or government commission.
Sporting Tournament Pools
Okay, okay, we’re cheating a bit here. We said no sports. But we’re going to include it anyway, as they can work, as long as you stick to the major tournaments only.
In other words, avoid the MLB season or the 82-game NBA slog. Most people are casual fans, so they’ll lose to that one person who is a fantasy god. Instead, opt for the big sporting tournaments that pretty much everyone follows.
We’re talking about the Olympics that are coming up in Paris, the Super Bowl, the World Cup, March Madness, or the (insert sport here) playoffs. Even the most casual of sports fans will have some knowledge of these sporting events, ensuring it stays fun for everyone. The best site to host your office pool is the free sports host officepoolstop.com.
Reality TV Pool
It’s your guilty pleasure, just admit it. We all know you’ve been watching Love Island, you know exactly who was kicked out on yesterday’s episode. Lean into your love of reality television and create a pool at the office.
To make things even more interesting, don’t just focus on a single show. Do them all (or, well, a manageable number!). We’re talking Big Brother, Love Island, American Idol, old school Survivor (yes, the show is still running, with season 45 hitting record numbers), and it all works.
One idea is to hold a fantasy-style draft, where players pick their favourite contestants from each show. The person with the most ‘winners’ left at the end of each show’s run, wins the game.
Before the ‘Draft’
Office pools can either be super fun and a great way of bringing your office together as a community, or they can go seriously wrong. That’s the last thing you want, especially in a professional setting.
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to avoid things spiralling into a Lord of the Flies-esque situation. To finish off and send you on your office pool way, here are some tips to keep things fun for everyone:
- Set clear rules from the start, so that everyone is on the same page and there can be no arguments or what-ifs. Don’t reinvent the wheel here, as most games already have watertight rules. Just be clear about the communication.
- Prizes will incentivize players, and it’s a good idea to either collect a small amount from players or fund everything from an office budget. It doesn’t have to be a cash prize, either. Tickets to a game or a voucher for a department store also work.
- Choose a good commissioner. Someone who isn’t too competitive, is liked and trusted by most people and doesn’t show bias.
- Use an online platform, trust us. It’ll make life infinitely easier. Just say no to pen and paper, Excel spreadsheets, or anything that will turn this thing into work.
And remember, this is meant to be fun. Remind employees that it’s good to have a competitive spirit, but within limits. You don’t want staplers and printers being hurled across the room because of a game.
