2013 Office Betting Survey

You In?

“I think it's a recreation activity that allows co-workers to engage in something together outside of the main focus on workplace responsibilities – could possibly enhance rapport and workplace morale.”

Yes70%

No30%

Have you ever participated in a betting pool at your workplace?

“I think they are unethical and in bad taste in any workplace setting. They set a poor example and interfere with work productivity.”

“Super Bowl, football, march madness, fantasy leagues”

“When the Lottery reaches a large amount we all have a betting pool then split the winning amount”

Have you ever won?

Yes; 33%

No; 67%

Have you ever won an office pool?

“NCAA Final Four—$53,500. I got 535:1 odds on an non-seeded team.”

What’s Your Poison?

March Madness and the Super Bowl top the list of most-bet-upon events.

March Madness

NFL regular season

Other

College football

NCAA basketball (regular season)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

69%

60%

37%

35%

19%

17%

12%

8%

7%

4%

Which types of office betting pools do you and/or your co-workers engage in?

Waste of Time?

“I think they're a positive thing for office morale but that people often spend a lot of time that should be work time focused on them which hurts productivity. So, it's probably a

net-zero effect.”

Less

than

30

min

utes

30 m

inut

es -

1 ho

ur

1-2

hour

s

2-4

hour

s

4-6

hour

s

More

than

6 h

ours

N/A -

I don

't pa

rticipa

te in

offi

ce p

ools

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%52%

15%

4% 2% 1% 2%

25%

When participating in a pool, how much of your workday do you spend discussing/researching/making your picks?

So, Is It Okay?

More than three-quarters of those surveyed said betting pools are appropriate at work.

Yes79%

No21%

Do you think it is appropriate to have office betting pools?

“There is so little communal contact in our society after college graduation. Let people be a part of a group.”

“I think that it is important that the focus of the bets are never driven by the money itself, because its objective is to give a chance to build good relationships.”

Office Policy: Yay or Nay?

Only 11% of those surveyed said their offices have policies prohibiting workplace betting pools.

Nearly half (49%) weren’t sure if it’s allowed, and 39% reported no policies on betting at all.

Yes; 11%

No; 39%

Not sure; 49%

Does your company/firm have a policy regarding betting pools?

“Any gambling is not condoned by employer, but nothing is done to discourage it. They pretend they don't see it and some high ups participate.”

“Highly frowned upon by HR, ignored by everyone else”

“No policy, as long as they don't get out of hand and have a positive effect on morale.”

Cost of Admission

Nothing to lose? Most survey takers reported a $25-or-less cost for participation in their office’s pools.

Other

Less than $5

$10 or less

$11-$25

$26-$50

$51-$100

$101-$250

More than $250

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

10%

17%

38%

19%

7%

4%

2%

3%

How much money does it usually cost to enter your office's betting pools?

So, What’d You Win?

Other

$50 or less

$51-$100

$101-$200

$201-$300

$301-$500

$501-$750

$751-$999

$1,000 or more

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

13%

11%

22%

15%

15%

9%

7%

2%

7%

How much money does the winner usually receive?

Why Risk It?

Most employees ante up for fun, not money.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%81%

48% 47%32%

6%

What do you think are the primary drivers for employees to participate in office betting pools?

So Is It a Good Thing?

Most workers feel that office betting has a positive influence on their workplace.

Positive; 55%

Neither positive nor negative;

29%

Negative; 8%

Overall, how do you view the impact of office betting pools on the environment at your office?*

“It's fun and fosters some friendly competition. The monetary stakes are generally pretty low so its fun.”