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Football pools celebrates 90th anniversary
THE football pools – once the only route to riches for most families – is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Started by the Merseyside-based Moores family who would later have a big influence on the city’s two major football clubs, Everton and Liverpool, the first jackpot was the then princely sum of £2.60. Since 1923 more than £3.2billion has been paid out by the various pools firms to 61 million people.
Around half a million still play every week, although business was badly hit by the introduction of the National Lottery in 1994.